The view from my "office"

[OZDUCK]

We are currently in Salamanca - known as "The Golden City" because of the use of sandstone in most of its very many beautiful buildings and monuments.

The New Cathedral - consecrated in 1733 (with giant bird)



The Roman Bridge built sometime between 27 BC and 79 AD. The arches closer to the city are the original Roman ones.



Plaza Mayo - built 1729 -1755




Sorry, a bit of fun with the panorama setting on the camera. 3 1/2 sides of the square.

 

[QF WP]

This literally was the view from behind my office yesterday as I walked to the car. Channelling @drron . As is always the way, I think it was even better 20 seconds beforehand, but by the time I put my bags down, got my iPhone out, opened the camera function - it was lost.

 

[QF WP]

Then there were the views from a Council-run event on Sunday (getting the kids through their last day of freedom before school started back on Monday):



I found this frog hopping around and being a good citizen, went and put him back next to a pond




Yes, describes my daughter to a tee. Enjoying a Bratwurst




Some characters channelling Where’s Wally

 

[JohnK]

Brisbane Festival.

That wheel looks bigger when you're up close.



Changes in Brisbane Skyline





Jazz concert

 

[RooFlyer]

We are currently in Salamanca - known as "The Golden City" because of the use of sandstone in most of its very many beautiful buildings and monuments.

Oh, oh, oh ... One of my favourite places ( was based there for work about 3 times )

Did you see the astronaut carved into the stonework around the entrance to the New Cathedral? See the frog at the Uni?

Did you have one ( or more) of their giant G&Ts? Go tappas-ing around the Plaza?

 

[RooFlyer]

View from Penguin, NW Tas.

 

[drron]

In my neck of the woods rooflyer.With any luck I may be back there next month.

 

[OZDUCK]

Oh, oh, oh ... One of my favourite places ( was based there for work about 3 times )

Did you see the astronaut carved into the stonework around the entrance to the New Cathedral? See the frog at the Uni?

Did you have one ( or more) of their giant G&Ts? Go tappas-ing around the Plaza?

Goodness me, I had forgotten about these carvings. Thanks for reminding me, we will hunt them down today.

I don't like G & T - sorry - but yesterday we passed a delivery guy wheeling away literally hundreds of empty bottles of Schweppes Tonic Water so I think that you can safely assume it is still being drank in large quantities.

We are a bit "Tapas-ed out" out after San Sebastian & Bilbao but we did have lunch yesterday on the 1st floor of a restaurant overlooking the square.

 

[RooFlyer]

Here's your friend drron




and some Rhodos



Funny looking local penguins

 

[Flashback]

Then there were the views from a Council-run event on Sunday (getting the kids through their last day of freedom before school started back on Monday):

View attachment 140014

I found this frog hopping around and being a good citizen, went and put him back next to a pond

View attachment 140013


Yes, describes my daughter to a tee. Enjoying a Bratwurst

View attachment 140015


Some characters channelling Where’s Wally

View attachment 140016

Looks like she is rest for a trip to PERfect PER then.

View from Penguin, NW Tas.

View attachment 140024

Looks as good as I remember it!

 

[dxwell]

after San Sebastian & Bilbao

Hi Ozduck - it has been 30 years since I have been to San Sebastian.
Next year, we have a week in Northern Spain in the 3rd week of July, I just don't know where. My wife and I just want to chill and immerse ourselves in the Spanish way of life before returning to work.
Any recommendations based upon your recent travels? I was thinking about San Sebastian, but would also appreciate somewhere less touristy.
All recommendations welcome!

 

[VPS]

Here's your friend drron

View attachment 140026


and some Rhodos

View attachment 140027

Funny looking local penguins

View attachment 140028

I have obviously spent too much time in the Northern Hemisphere (or at least that is where my heart is). I was wondering why you had photos of Rhododendrons in full flower when it wasn't April (oh woops that's when they flower in the NH) Love Rhododendrons. Thanks

 

[VPS]

Hi Ozduck - it has been 30 years since I have been to San Sebastian.
Next year, we have a week in Northern Spain in the 3rd week of July, I just don't know where. My wife and I just want to chill and immerse ourselves in the Spanish way of life before returning to work.
Any recommendations based upon your recent travels? I was thinking about San Sebastian, but would also appreciate somewhere less touristy.
All recommendations welcome!

Cadiz may be a bit too touristy for you but it is lovely spot and a bit out of the way. I had a great time there last year.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was wondering why you had photos of Rhododendrons in full flower when it wasn't April

Wait till you see tomorrow

 

[OZDUCK]

Hi Ozduck - it has been 30 years since I have been to San Sebastian.
Next year, we have a week in Northern Spain in the 3rd week of July, I just don't know where. My wife and I just want to chill and immerse ourselves in the Spanish way of life before returning to work.
Any recommendations based upon your recent travels? I was thinking about San Sebastian, but would also appreciate somewhere less touristy.
All recommendations welcome!

I really liked San Sebastian but we were there a bit "out of season" and I think that in July it would be very touristy.

Bilbao might be an option if you like day trips to nearby towns. The areas around the Guggenheim & the Old Town would be very touristy but there is a lot of space to get away from tourists. We enjoyed our 1/2 day trip to the seaside at the end of the Metro and there are lots of little coastal towns only an hour or so away from Central Bilbao. There are choices of trains or buses to get to these places. One word of caution is that bits of Bilbao are certainly "gritty".

Apart from that the only northern town we visited was Zaragoza and 2 nights was fine for there.

 

[QF WP]

Lunch Meeting at Beaufort Heritage in Brisbane and normally they’re in the ballrooms. This was instead in a small meeting room tucked up on the 3rd floor. Thankfully the speaker was riveting otherwise I could have lost myself in this view (over to where I lived for a year as a 20-something)

 

[OZDUCK]

Oh, oh, oh ... One of my favourite places ( was based there for work about 3 times )

Did you see the astronaut carved into the stonework around the entrance to the New Cathedral? See the frog at the Uni?

Did you have one ( or more) of their giant G&Ts? Go tappas-ing around the Plaza?

Found em!

 

[JohnM]

The research that goes into providing reliable, affordable food continues...

My last three days around the Upper Great Southern, WA. Agriculture is easy... - not.









Hmmm - what’s that black stuff on the canola? Oh - just a sh*tload of aphids making a mess of what is supposed to be...







And Loose cough fungus in a two-row barley crop...





Not to mention weeds...

 

[coriander]

Like the swallows returning, the arrival of cruise ships heralds the onset of warmer weather: the second ship of the season arriving into Marvellous Melbourne this morning is the "Majestic Princess".

 

[RooFlyer]

My first visit to Stanley, NW Tasmania. A delightful little town.

Pub



PM Joseph Lyons birthplace





Serious place for Tas gourmet produce





Not to mention chocolate @JessicaTam