The World Through Our Lens
Bob and I began our second day in Paris, France, with a visit to the Roman Catholic church La Madeleine located at the very top of rue Royale. With its massive Corinthian columns, La Madeleine Church occupies a commanding position at the end of the street, and I remember being awed when I first caught sight of it. This church has a very interesting history. Read more
After finishing our adventure into the Amazon, Bob and I flew back to Cusco, the former Inca capital in Peru. After getting checked into our hotel, we walked over to the Plaza de Armas, which is featured in the centre of this photo. This square, seen here surrounded by various different church steeples, was once the hub of the Inca Empire. It was here in this mountain valley, in the exact middle of Plaza de Armas, that the Inca people believed that the centre of the universe and all power on earth was focused. Given the success of their Empire before the Spanish arrived, it’s not hard to understand why they believed that. Read more
After taking two days to tour the fields where tulips are cultivated, and to revel in the show of spring flowers at Keukenhof Gardens, it was time to make our way to the village of Zaanse Schans to view the large collection of windmills that still stand there in the Netherlands. Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, Holland had over 10,000 windmills; today, that number has dwindled to near 1,000. Most of the 10,000 original windmills were used to power industries, but that ended with the industrial revolution. Those that survived were either grinding grain or draining fields out in the country. Read more
On a sunny morning, Bob and I drove south out of Amsterdam towards the village of Lisse where we planned to visit the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Read more
Over a quick breakfast in Agua Calientes, Bob and I debated whether or not to actually tackle climbing up Huayna Picchu Mountain, which sits overlooking Machu Picchu. The hiking trail up this mountain follows another ancient Inca path with an ascent up steep stony pathways, through tunnels, and along sheer cliff edges that offer no protection for hikers. We both decided that it would be an exhilarating and challenging trek, but I was unsure if I would have the courage. I have to tell you that I am very afraid of heights. Read more
Bright sunshine greeted us when Bob and I awoke in Arequipa, Peru at 6:30 a.m. It is amazing how a little sunlight can change the face of a place. When we emerged from our hotel with a city map in hand, the cobbled streets and high walls seemed less daunting than when we arrived in the dark the night before. Read more
