&

Look at all the stories represented here in the lake!

(Remember: Click to enlarge!)

As evening draws its curtain, lights become even more intense

and the garden comes alive with butterflies,

and the reflections on the water become even bolder.

Oh, the beauty of stories come to life!

Aside: We were aware of this special show because of a blog that Paula and Joe wrote when they were traveling the world last year.Hopefully this posting brings the gardens to even more travelers attention. 

Where to now?

Visit more of Canada, click here

and/or

Visit a different part of the world, click here

and/or

Explore variations on a theme, click here.

Happy travels!

Short and sweet…

Where in the world were we when we took this photo?

Think you know?

Click here to search for the answer!

Today we are traveling about twenty minutes south west of Edmonton, the capital of Alberta Canada to visit one of Canada's botanical gardens..

the Devonian Botanic Garden.

Part of the University of Alberta, the garden is not only a tourist attraction, it  is a highly respected research centre (one of the most northerly of the world's botanic gardens)…as well as a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photos!

On the more than 200 acres that make up the garden you will explore several different gardens.

The Kurimoto Japanese Garden is one of my favourites.

It was designed as a "strolling garden"

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Covering about five acres, you will have lots of room to enjoy its beauty.

Native Peoples Garden

Here you will wander through areas filled with plants used by Native People on the prairies since the beginning of time.(Perhaps that is a bit melodramatic, but you get the idea.)

Sensory Garden

This one really drew me in…I understood how they could show plants in relation to sight, smell, touch, and taste…but how where they going to show hearing?

Well, they did! (Visit to learn how…sneaky of me, huh?)

There are opportunities for photos at every turn.

&

&

plus, you never know when a piece of art might appear!

Tropical Pavilion

Inside the tropical pavilion you can enjoy summer all year round

and see plants that would not survive this northern climate if left outdoors.

 Winter is not to be missed though!

Click here to join us at the Garden when there is snow.

Where to Now?

See more of Canada…click here

and/or

Visit a different country…click here

and/or

Explore some Variations on a theme…click here.

Happy travels!

The gardens are part of the Botanical Gardens

which are part of the Espace pour la vie

which also includes the Biodome, the Insectarium, and the Planetarium.

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

We are visiting in mid October

so the autumn colours are splendid.

Follow the paths and enjoy the contrasts

What might be on the other side of this bridge?

More glorious colour?

and babbling streams?

All beautifully designed so that there is always a focal point no matter which way you look, and one scene does not overpower another scene.

Except perhaps when the light from the setting sun

hits the Olympic Tower at just the right angle

to produce this scene stealer!

The Botanical Gardens were the highlight of our Montreal trip.

Do plan to include the huge Space for Living area in your plans…

in fact, you could spend a few days here alone!

Where to now?

The Chinese Garden in Montreal…click here.

and/or

more of Canada…click here.

and/or

other countries…click here.

or

Solve a travel quiz…click here.

Happy travels!

Do you recognize this statue?

The Bear and the Strawberry Tree

(hint: click on the photo to enlarge it)

Clue: It is the official symbol of this city.

So…where in the world were we when we took this photo?

Click here to check your answer.

Let's begin our tour of the historical part of Madrid at its centre…

Plaza Mayor.

The statue in the middle of the square is of King Felipe III

The plaza was built on the side of a hill so it is interesting to see how they built up one side of the hill, making it possible to visit some of the "cave" restaurants built underneath the outer edge of the plaza.

example: When you enter this restaurant you are actually going underneath the plaza.

Not too far from the plaza is this very interesting covered market (Mercado San Miguel) where one can buy some local food to bring to a park and enjoy a casual lunch.

(As a Canadian, this reminded me of Vancouver's Granville Island shops.)

The Royal Palace is not that far so let's stroll over there.

(To go inside the palace gates with us, click here.)

After stopping at our apartment just off Puerto del Sol for a rest from the heat, let's head south towards the museum area.em>Oh,你想看看我们的公寓吗?Come on up!

Puerto del Sol is the most central of the plazas in Centro (so I was told!) In times gone by it was one of the city gates and an image of the sun was featured on the gate.

Today a tourist like me might recognize it for its famous Tio Pepe sign.

(Reminder…click on any photo to enlarge it)

The black and white checkered vehicle is a police van.似乎总有隐蔽的警察存在 任何地方我们去马德里We never saw any incidents where they were needed…but then their presence is likely why that is true!

People everywhere as we stroll through plaza after plaza.

Below is the Reina Sofia Museum

filled with contemporary and modern art.

(Reina means Queen in Spanish)

Aside: Join us at two other art museums in this area:  Caixa Forum and of course Prado… click here to visit them.

Fountain of Neptune

(his chariot is a conch shell pulled by seahorses)

We are now right by Retiro Park (350 square acres that rival NYC's Central Park..truly). In Spanish "retiro" means "pleasant retreat", a perfect name for this huge area of gardens, fountains, lakes, and pavilions.BOB体育推荐Hint: plan short visits each day rather than trying to see a whole bunch in one day.

Any guess what this is?

Atocha train station where May 11 is a date etched into the city's collective memory.

A bit farther on (past some very elegant hotels!) we find the government area.

&

(this is the Dept of Agriculture building, but I was most interested in the magnificent carvings and statues.)

Madrid is filed with wonderful carvings!

(Did you click on the photo to enjoy the carvings?)

In one plaza near our condo we found (much to my hubby's delight)

this beautiful "creature".

 While he admires the car, let's head back to the street (near the park) where thousands of old books are for sale

(reminds me of the book stalls of Paris!)

Where to now?

See more of Spain…click here.

and/or

Visit another country…click here.

and/or

Solve a travel quiz…click here.

Happy travels!

come through that brown door with me,

go up the stairs (or take the little elevator)

and you will be in our rented two bedroom home.

Quite pretty isn't it.

(Hint: click on any photo to enlarge it.)

There is air conditioning so turn that on as soon as you get in and before you know it the temperature inside is very pleasant.Remember to turn it off each time you leave the condo! (If you had not heard before, Madrid can get very, very hot in the summer…but we are here in May and still are appreciative of the air conditioner.)

The ceiling in the living/dining room is very high at its peak (12 or 14 feet)

but as you head into the rest of the condo the walls are steeply angled so watch your head.

We came up with a practical solution to working in the kitchen!

Just watch out for the beams when you stand up!

Aside: We knew this was an attic apartment on the fourth floor and knew about the low ceilings so no surprises.其实它相当迷人The apartments on the first three floors have "normal" ceiling heights.

The view out the back window is quite typical of European cities

(space is precious)

but if you open up the sky light and stick your head out

the view is a bit more interesting.

Supper time is at a late hour here in Madrid,

so as the sun begins to set

let's head down to that little plaza we saw earlier,

snag a table

and have a late night snack.

(Tomorrow we can go grocery shopping!)

Note: We rented through Spain Select and were very happy with the condo and the company's service.

Click here to return to our tour of Centro Madrid.

Ready for more? 

Okay…

here are more forts we have visited.

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it)

Let's head to Africa…

Castle of Good Hope

Cape Town, South Africa

Yes, I do know this is a page about forts.强/强/强星堡垒(以恒星形状建起)由荷属东印公司早在1660年代建起曾是堡垒 典狱长官邸 现为南非殖民生活博物馆And yes…it is called the Castle.

Next…to the United States

Fort Clatsop

Oregon, USA

This fort was built as a winter camp for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800's.访客中心为优先You can wander the grounds as well…that's where we came across this dug out canoe.

From the west coast to the east coast…next stop, Quebec in Canada.

Champlain's 2nd fort

Quebec City, Quebec

(do enlarge the photo)

This large display board is near the site of Champlain's second fort, very near where the Chateau Frontenac Hotel is today in Quebec City.sumuel de/striet Champlain 是加拿大历史中大名BOB体育推荐etc.

Next stop…western Canada

Fort Calgary, Alberta

Visit Fort Calgary with us…click here.

Then…

Visit more forts or another theme, click here.

and/or

Visit countries around the world, click here.

and/or

Solve a travel quiz, click here.

Happy travels!

Oh give me a home

Where the buffalo roam…

(Do you remember that song?)

Ever wished you had such a home?bob体育链接You know, if you had lived more than 200 years ago such a home would have been possible on the Canadian prairies.

Then in the 1800's European explorers arrived.

The brilliant cartographer, David Thompson, mapped much of western North America…

(Hint: click on any photo to enlarge it.)

…paving the way for more exploration.

Soon there were enough Europeans, and enough problems, to warrant a police presence.

Enter the NWMP (North West Mounted Police)

and the establishment of Fort Calgary along the banks of the Bow River (where the Elbow River joins it).

There were  not many mounties and they had a huge territory to patrol, but they had a vision and were determined.

Under the leadership of Colonel MacLeod  they succeeded in their mission.

The area was secured and ready for the Trans Canada railway and settlers.

Col.MacLeod雕像后台NWMP军营bob体育链接MacLeod as in Fort MacLeod and MacLeod Trail in Calgary.)