A VISIT TO EDINBURGH CASTLE BY MILA

MILA

Today's blog post features a special guest writer – Mila, my granddaughter, a curious and talented nine-year-old. She's currently in Edinburgh Scotland with her family. They spent Easter Sunday exploring Edinburgh Castle and this is Mila's story: 

2:24PM: WALKING AROUND IN A LARGE GRAVEL AREA WHILE WAITING TO GO INTO THE CASTLE.

             

2:26PM: WE GET ICE CREAM.

AROUND 2:30PM: WE GET INTO THE CASTLE AND GRAB A MAP.

2:52PM: I GO WITH MY MOM TO MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, 
ST. MARGARET'S CHAPEL

ABOUT 3:00: WE SEE TWO OF MY FAVORITES, THE DOG CEMETERY AND THE
FORE WELL, IN WHICH I DROPPED TREE PEBBLES FOR MY SISTER, WITH A VERY SATISFACTORY RESULT.

3:49PM: WE GO TO A PLACE CALLED THE GREAT HALL

4:45PM: WE LEAVE AND GO TO A CAFE

5:00PM: I GO BACK WITH MY DAD AND WE SEE THE CROWN JEWELS.

ABOUT 5:20PM: WE GO TO THE GIFT SHOP AND I GET A MOOD RING AND A PENCIL.

QUEEN MARGARET (ABOVE)
[ST MARGARET'S CHAPEL IS THE OLDEST BUILDING IN EDINBURGH CASTLE. 
BUILT IN ABOUT 1130, THIS CHAPEL WAS PROBABLY PART OF A GREAT STONE TOWER. IT IS DEDICATED TO THE SAINTLY QUEEN MARGARET, WHO LIVED IN THE CASTLE IN THE LATE 1000'S]

AZULEJOS AND THE OLD TILE FACTORY OF BELEM

On a hill above Belem, Portugal sits Sant'Anna Fabrica (Calcada da Boa-Hora 96), the oldest operating Azulejos factory in Europe. This family-owned business is still making artistic tiles and ceramics by hand just as they did when it was founded in 1741.

FABRICA SANT'ANNA

The showroom is open daily and visiting this place is like going to a museum. There are hundreds of artistic tiles and ceramics on display and thousands more molds in the factory to choose from. They also make special designs per customer request. Less than 18 percent of the products sold remain in Portugal and the rest are shipped to customers all over the world. About 65 percent of the products are shipped to the United States. A replica of a panel that was specially designed for Barbara Streisand is on display in the factory.

SHOWROOM

After visiting the showroom, I made a reservation to return another day for the factory tour where the original wood-burning kilns are still on display. The methods, materials, and tools used to make the impressive Azulejos haven't changed much through the years and it takes many months to complete an order. Using natural clay, the tiles and pottery are molded, cut, dried, baked, glazed, and painted by hand before the final baking. Each individual piece is checked manually for quality using the same techniques and high standards that they have been using for almost 300 years.

 Skilled artists, sitting on small stools, were painting on tiles the day we visited, each with a little paint cart sitting next to them.

ARTISTS AT WORK IN FACTORY

One of the many reasons there are so many buildings constructed with tiles in Lisbon is that it was the material of choice when the city was almost totally rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. Tiles were cheaper than stone and other materials and offered many of the same benefits.

On my last day in Belem, as I take one more leisurely walk to enjoy the colorful ceramic tiles that adorn the buildings, I have fleeting thoughts of returning someday to load up on Sant'Anna tiles to decorate my own little Portuguese villa by the sea.  

Related Post: Azulejos & A Vintage Tiles Shop in Faro, Portugal, October 12, 2016

THOUSANDS OF MOLDS STORED IN FACTORY

THREE MONTHS IN EUROPE

It's the end of January and our three months in Europe are coming to an end. This visit has been unusual for us in many ways: 

--It was longer than most of our trips.

--We were traveling to Europe during the winter.

-- I happily spent more time at playgrounds than sightseeing.

--Finally, we were following an itinerary that was planned by someone else.

Our daughter, Anna, and her family are spending a year in Europe and staying about a month in various locations. So I think you could say that we just piggy-backed on to their well-planned itinerary, choosing a time when we could be together over the holidays.

Here's a summary of our travels:

--Athens, Greece, and Crete Greece – November 2023

--Valencia, Spain – December 2023

--Belem, Lisbon, Spain – January 2024

LISBON

We rented an apartment in each location that was often within a few blocks of where Anna, John, and our three granddaughters were staying. I frequently joined them at the playgrounds in the afternoon where they could play and often meet other children. Anna and John are homeschooling and running their business while traveling. Anna is promising to write a book on their European travels—I will let you know how that progresses.

I enjoy the slow travel and getting to know each place well. I often return to interesting sights and can always find something new to discover. It's nice to have time to find your favorite cafes and restaurants. It could have been warmer at times, however, for the most part, it was in the 60s and warm enough for pleasant walks. We were in places where we could pretty much walk to wherever we wanted to go and take a bus or train as needed.

Life is different in Europe, however, if I were to pick just one thing that gives me the most pleasure it would be the ancient surroundings—sometimes dating back to 4,000 BC. Our favorite location was Crete—a place we hope to return to someday. A very special memory was the day we spent at the Acropolis in Athens with our granddaughters.

We are departing with unforgettable memories of time with our family and we are already missing them...…. However, we find solace in the fact that they are still experiencing new and interesting places in the world and in many ways, their lives will never be the same.

For now, Ron and I are in Mission Viejo, California visiting my brother, Fred. We look forward to returning home to La Crosse, Wisconsin in March and being near our son, Ben, and his wife, Erica. 

HERAKLION, CRETE

CHAIA, CRETE

BELEM TOWER, PORTUGAL

LISBON

NATIVITY SCENES OF VALENCIA, SPAIN

PLAZA DE LA REINAc

Merry Christmas from Valencia, Spain!

Valencia (pop. 800,000) is the third largest city in Spain and is well-known for its Christmas decorations, lights, and love of Nativity scenes. The artistically designed Nativity scenes can be found in the public plazas, cathedrals, museums, and markets throughout the city. I've enjoyed discovering as many as possible as I've been meandering through the city. Here are some favorites:

Related Post: "The Christmas Lights of Malaga Spain," December 23, 202

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CERAMICS - VALENCIA SPAIN

MERCADO COLON

PARISH CHURCH OF SAN VALERO

MERCADO CENTRAL OF VALENCIA

TOWN HALL OF VALENCIA 

MINIATURE CHURCHES IN CHANIA, CRETE

 

  As I was walking along the shoreline of an old fishing village in Chania, Crete, I happened to notice a small dollhouse-like church sitting on a post at the end of one of the wooden docks. I then walked out to take a closer look at this intriguing little white structure with a red-tiled roof and narrow-arched windows.

I soon began to notice these little models of Greek Orthodox churches all around Chania and decided to find out more about them.

It turns out that the tiny intricately designed models of Greek Orthodox churches are called kandylakia which means little candle in Greek. The history of making kandylakia dates back to the Byzantine era when portable religious icons were used for private worship. Over time, they evolved into miniature churches, crafted by skilled artisans, and used as offerings or gifts.

   Today they are considered a symbol of faith and devotion in the Greek Orthodox religion and are often used to commemorate special occasions like weddings and baptisms and are believed to bring blessings and protection to the house where they are displayed. The Greek Orthodox Church is the “prevailing religion” in Greece's constitution. Its members comprise about 95% of the population.

Chania (pop. 60,000) is the second largest city in Crete. We found November to be a great time to be here – the weather was mild with lots of sunshine and there were very few tourists around. I'm still missing the lovely walks along the sea and my favorite restaurant, Pallas, where I enjoyed Greek Yogurt bowls and morning coffee.

THE TURKISH SEBIL WATER FOUNTAIN OF HERAKLION - "A PLACE TO DRINK AND GATHER."

 

     When walking through Karnarous Square in Heraklion (pop. 177,000), I noticed some small tables and coffee being served next to an old round domed building. It was so picturesque that I decided to stop for a coffee. I then noticed water sprockets coming out of the wall where I was sitting and soon learned that this structure is a Sebil Water Fountain that was built in 1776 to provide free water to the public.

   During the Ottoman period, when water was not easily available to many, it was common for wealthy Turks to pay for the construction of the fountains so everyone would have clean drinking water. This well-preserved fountain, built by Hadji Ibrahim Aga, is the only Sebil or "charity fountain" that is still standing in Heraklion.

    Today is Thanksgiving in America and I will once again head down to Karnarous Square to enjoy a coffee and pastry from a nearby bakery while I watch the flock of blackbirds land on the roof of this old Sybil and I will remember to count my blessings. 

KARNAROUS SQUARE and MARKET STREET

ANATIOTIKA – A TASTE OF THE GREEK ISLANDS IN THE MIDST OF ATHENS

Sometimes a meandering city walk takes you to “other places,” like the tiny whitewashed homes built into the rock on the northeast slope of Acropolis Hill in Athens that are reminiscent of the nearby islands.

Anatiotika is a neighborhood of about 45 delightful tiny homes that were originally built in the early 1800s by migrants from the Greek island of Anafi. The workers were recruited by King Otto of Greece to build his palace. In the evenings they built small residences for their families that resembled the homes they left behind in Anafi, a small island east of Santorini in the south Aegean Sea.

   Today the homes in Anatiotika are mostly owned and inhabited by the original descendants of the settlers from Anafi and the law states they cannot be sold but must be passed down to family members or sold to the Greek State.

The walk along these steep and narrow passages to view the tiny homes also offers a spectacular view of the city and Mt. Lycabettus in the distance.