- Castelo dos Mouros
The 10th century castle was built by the Moors. - Castelo dos Mouros
- Hotel garden
Another misty morning in Sintra. In the middle of the summer. So refreshing. - Convento dos Capuchos
This wonderful convent was founded in 1560 and inhabited until 1834. - Convento dos Capuchos
The Door of Death is the entrance to the monastery. - Convento dos Capuchos
The magical monastery is even more mysterious in fog. This is the central cloister with a fountain. - Convento dos Capuchos
Super-tiny doors left and right from the corridor lead to super-tiny rooms. - Convento dos Capuchos
The kitchen and the Chapter House. - Convento dos Capuchos
The convent is built around/between boulders, so the interior is very intriguing. - Convento dos Capuchos
It's so humid even in the middle of the summer, no wonder everything is so lush green! - Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe. - Cabo da Roca
The lighthouse began operating in 1772. - Carpobrotus edulis
The whole Cabo is covered with carpobrotus. This one is yellow. - Cascais
What a lovely Bougainvilleated corner of a house in Cascais. - Cascais
Not quite sure what to think of this place. Diverse or messy? Eclectic or mismatched? This certainly was a wonderful place. Now - not so much. - Dom Carlos I
Cascais was the favourite place of the king Dom Carlos I. The statue is from 2008 and only the names of politicians are given on the plaque, the artist is not mentioned. - Lisbon Campo Grande
Campo Grande and Entrecampos in Lisbon. View from the hotel. - Valgadena
On the road towards Levico Terme, just for a short break at the end of the holidays. - Lago di Levico
The calm lake after the storm. - Lago di Levico
- Sign in an underpass
Hmmm... - Lago di Levico
Lago di Levico was awarded Bandiera Blue for excellent water quality. - Lago di Levico
The lake is 2840 m long, 950 m wide and 38 m deep. - Lago di Levico
There is a wonderful walking path around the lake. - Lago di Levico
Ideal for swimming and paddling. - Turkey tail fungus
I think these are turkey tail fungi. I may be wrong though. - Lago di Levico
View from the other side of the lake, towards Levico Terme. - Levico Terme
How to make a boring fence interesting. - Levico Terme
A lovely tiny garden in Levico Terme. - Levico Terme
An interesting old entrance. - Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
- Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
Founded in 1276, built and re-built several times. This building is from 1876. - Levico Terme
Some artificial flowers in the town centre. - Sweets in Levico Terme
Some delicious sweets from a local patisserie. - View from strada del Menador
View towards Lago di Caldonazzo (left) and Lago di Levico (right). - House of Blackheads and Christmas tree
This wonderful building was bombed in WWII, completely demolished seven years later and rebuilt in 1999. - National Library
The new building was opened in 2014. The architect was Gunnar Birkerts (1925-2017), inspired by Castle of Light and Glass Mountain. - St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church (Rīgas Sv. Pētera baznīca). Founded in 1209 and rebuilt in the 15th century. The three entrances were added in the 17th century. The current steeple, which is 123 m tall, was built in 1973. - House of Blackheads
Originally built in 1334 for the city's guilds. The facade was was added in 1500s and the four statues of Neptune, Mercury, Unity and Peace were added in 1896. - Christmas tree
Wonderful Christmas tree in the Town Hall square. - The Christmas market
The Christmas spirit at the Christmas market in the Dome Square. Even the recycling bins are in festive mood :-) - Rīgas Doms - Riga Cathedral
The Cathedral and the Cathedral Square (Rīgas Doms and Doma laukums). - Mentzendorff house
Built in 1695. - House of Blackheads
Originally built in 1334 for the city's guilds. This wonderful building was bombed in WWII, and completely rebuilt in 1999. - A random armadillo
Armadillo by Liene Mackus. - Rīgas Doms - Riga Cathedral
The cloister of the Dome. The courtyard was closed, however, due to snow. - Rīgas Doms - Riga Cathedral
This Lutheran church was founded in 1211, but (re)built several times, so it's got Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements. And there was this guy tuning the piano, so I had my own private concert! Pure magic. - Romatic cafe
A romatic cafe behind St. Jacob's Catholic Cathedral (Rīgas Svētā Jēkaba Katedrāle) - Three brothers (Trīs Brāļi)
The Three Brothers are these three houses: the right one is gothic (15th century), the middle one is from the 17th, and the left one from the 18th century. - A closed bar
A closed bar, opposite the Powder Tower. - The Cat's House
Well, here I regretted not carrying my proper camera. Because I couldn't zoom in to the statue of the cat on top of the roof. - Riga centre
Some lovely old houses in the city centre. - Riga centre
Another wonderful Jugenstil/Art Nouveau house. - View of Riga
View from the St. Peter's tower. Yes, the visibility was pretty bad. One can hardly see the Vanšu Bridge. - The Christmas market
Plenty of bunnies in the Christmas market. This one was in Esplanade. - Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
The Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1876-1884. - Statue of Felicita Pauļuka
A statue of Felicita Pauļuka by Lea Dāvidova-Medene (1921-1986). Statue is in the National Museum of Art. - Esplanāde
One of the many parks in Riga. - Christmas decorations
A giant moon in Bastejkalna parks. - Christmas decorations
The inside of the moon :-) - Pilsētas kanāls
Latvian National Opera in the background. And yes, the canal is frozen. - Christmas decorations
Bastejkalna Park and the wonderful Christmas decorations. The key is the symbol of Riga. - Christmas decorations
Bastejkalna Park and the wonderful Christmas decorations. - Christmas decorations
More Christmas decorations in Kronvalda park. Unfortunately I wasn't there at night. - Jugendstil quarter
One of many wonderful buildings in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Quarter. Designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. - Jugendstil quarter
One of many wonderful buildings in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Quarter. - Jugendstil quarter
One of many wonderful buildings in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Quarter. - Jugendstil quarter
One of many wonderful buildings in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Quarter. - Jugendstil quarter
One of many wonderful buildings in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) Quarter. - Jugendstil quarter
Detail at the entrance into one of the many wonderful houses in Alberta ilea. - Bird skyscraper
Now this is a brilliant way of reusing an old tree. - Freedom monument (Brīvības piemineklis)
The Freedom monument was designed by Kārlis Zāle and built in 1935. - View of Riga
What a difference a day makes! I visited St. Peter's Church again to actually see the view :-) - View of Riga
Wonderful view in all directions. - Tête d’Amont (2814 m)
Dark clouds gathering over Massif de Montbrison, including Pic de Montbrisson (2818 m). - Mushing
These super-adorable dogs waiting for the start. - Mushing
My kids are in there, in the sleigh. And they are enjoying it. A lot! - Red!
Rowan and larches in the background. - Snow!
A lot of fresh powdery snow! So beautiful... - Tête d’Amont (2814 m)
Freshly fallen snow and clouds on Tête d’Amont. - Rowan in snow
Yes, I took a lot of photos. - Rowan in snow
- Rowan in snow
- Rowan in snow
Oddly enough, a few days later, the snow fell down, and also all the rowan fruit. But only from these two trees. Microclimate? Or maybe birds? - Rowan in snow
Looking up a rowan tree. - Rowan in snow
Are there too many photos of rowan? Probably, but I love them so I don't care. - Tournoux
What an idyllic place, so far from everything. - Col de la Pousterle
Even the hiking paths are well prepared. - Col de la Pousterle
Not many people walked the path that morning. - Tête d’Amont (2814 m)
What a lovely day for a walk. - Col de la Pousterle
Next to the hiking path is the cross-country skiing trail. - Col de la Pousterle
- Belvédère du Fournel
More snow than last year, but still not a lot. - Rowan in snow
- Gyr
From Vallouise to Pelvoux - Gyr
View from Gyr valley (Pelvoux) towards Puy Saint Vincent. - Pont Sans nom
A nameless bridge over L'Onde in Vallouise. - And a frog!
A super-cute frog. These animals are apparently illuminated at night. - Pid ce Bonvoisin (3480 m)
Pic de Malamort (3335 m) on the left, Pic Jocelme (3458 m) on the right, and L'Onde river in the front. - Pic de Peyre Eyraute (2903 m)