Europe » Traverse Earth

The Clock Tower, Sighisoara, Romania

Europe, Romania, Travel 1,054 Responses »

Jan 032014

This is another one of my older photos taken with my Canon Rebel, I played around with the levels a bit before posting it here.

I remember there was a man sat to the left of me, just out of frame painting this scene and I kind of copied his composition exactly. I think it’s an interesting view of the tower with some of the typical buildings in the foreground. It’s a colourful place.

The clock tower was first built in the 14th century and had various additions over the years. The roof had to be rebuilt at one point after the town’s gunpowder supplied exploded. The small four corner turrets denote the act that the citadel had judicial autonomy and the right to decide on capital punishments.

Originally, the tower housed the town’s council but now it holds a museum. As you climb it you get to learn about the history of Sighisoara.

Blue Bicycle, Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Europe, Travel 26 Responses »

Jan 022014

In my house in Bermuda I have a giant print of one of my first photos, taken in Amsterdam about 7 years ago. It’s looking a little worn out and I keep thinking I’d like to replace it, but can’t decide on a photo. So, I decided I could replace it with an up to date picture of the same place. So, I found the spot. It wasn’t anywhere near where I thought it was but I stumbled upon it within an hour of arriving. Unfortunately, things have changed, there were loads of tables stacked up blocking my view.

I kept wandering and spotted this blue bike looking back towards the same canal junction that is up on my wall.

San Gimignano Alleyway

Europe, Italy, Travel 4 Responses »

Jan 012014

Happy New Year everyone.

Now that we’re through the holiday season I’ve decided to get back to trying to post a daily photograph. This is a shot I took on my September country hopping week and a half in Europe. I liked the laundry hanging out to dry and the vines in this small street in the beautiful little town of San Gimignano.

I’ll be heading off island again in 10 days for London and Rome, so hopefully will be posting some photos from that trip soon.

Inside La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Europe, Spain, Travel 3 Responses »

Oct 292013

This is the inside of Gaudi’s incomplete cathedral, La Sagrada Familia. It’s a weird structure that will only get weirder as they continue building it.The columns shape was inspired by trees, hence the branches at the top. It was pretty tricky to get this shot as tripods were not allowed.

Sighisoara Morning, Transylvania Romania

Europe, Romania, Travel 6 Responses »

Oct 282013

This is an old photo, taken with my old rebel, in Sighisoara, Romania very early in the morning just before sunrise. Sighisoara is a beautiful little medieval town in Transylvania. It’s known as the birthplace of the real life Dracula, Vlad the Impaler.

Firenze di Notte, Italia

Europe, Italy, Travel 1 Response »

Oct 052013

I haven’t posted a photo in a while as I’ve been preparing for some exams on Monday and Tuesday. It’s time for a break so I spent the evening processing one of the photos from my recent trip to Florence.

This was taken from Michelangelo Plaza overlooking the city. It was about half an hour after sunset and we’d made a quick drive back from the Chianti region to get here while there was still a bit of light about. It was so frantic that when we saw a deer next to the road in amongst the vineyards I, unfortunately, didn’t even think to stop and try to get a picture of it!

Still though, I think this night shot makes up for it. If you click on the image and blow it up you’ll be able to see the first stars streaking across the sky.

Climb Every Tower, San Gimignano

Europe, Italy, Travel 6 Responses »

Sep 262013

San Gimignano is an amazing little place. The town has successfully preserved fourteen medieval towers. These were built for defense and from the top, as you can see below, you could see people coming from miles around. They were built by wealthy families living there. Each time someone built a new tower, someone would begin plans to build a taller one. Apparently towers like this were common in Tuscany but most were lost to war, catastrophe or urban renewal.

I’ve been to San Gimignano a number of times. I remember visiting with my parents on a trip where I insisted on climbing to the top of anything we could climb and dragged them up more than one of the towers.

This time, one tower was enough. We were actually looking for lunch when I spotted a little doorway inviting you to climb to the top of the tower. It wasn’t the usual tower that tourists climb (the tallest one), it had actually been renovated to act as a vacation home. As we entered, I said we’d missed out on our chance to stay in one of these towers, thinking it would be amazing.

It wasn’t long before I changed my mind. Each floor was only big enough for one small room. So, we saw a sitting room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, another sitting room, a bedroom, another bathroom, and another kitchen on our way up. I was four flights of tiny spiral stairs in when I concluded that staying there would be absolute torture. Eventually, we burst through the roof into the sunlight, panting for air, and interrupted what appeared to be a romantic moment.

I set about taking photos from the tower. I actually liked being able to look up at the taller tower more than I think I would have enjoyed being up on it. It was full of tourists and after the happy couple descended, we had the place to ourselves. This photo is actually a panorama comprised of five photos to let me show you the whole scene. I actually wasn’t able to see down into the courtyard as the walls were so thick, but I edged my camera and tripod out as far as I could and let it peak over for me.

Once we returned to Earth we went to a little restaurant for a seriously garlic-heavy bruschetta while a man in a tailcoat with a bushy beard and sandals played the flute beautifully, before packing up, hopping on his bicycle and weaving away through the crowd.

Coppers in the Heineken Experience, Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Europe, Travel 3 Responses »

Sep 252013

The Heineken experience in Amsterdam is pretty cool. It’s located in the old Heineken Brewery. I visited it for the second time on my last trip. You learn about the history of Heineken, how they make it, and then they teach you how best to drink it. Then, you drink more of it.

These are the coppers, it’s where they heat various mixtures at the various stages of beer making.

Chianti Region at Sunset, Tuscany

Europe, Italy, Travel 2 Responses »

Sep 242013

After leaving Sienna, we plugged a few villages with “in-Chianti” in their names into the GPS so that we’d wind our way through the vineyards as the sun began to dip towards the horizon.

Before going to Tuscany I’d had a special request for those “round-bottomed pointy trees.” So, I was pretty glad when I found this row, lining the road we’d just driven down.

Amsterdam: Bicycles and Canals

Amsterdam, Europe, Travel 9 Responses »

Sep 172013

On my first day in Amsterdam, immediately after an overnight flight from Bermuda, there was a beautiful wispy cloud draped blue sky. I was tired but decided I’d better get out and take advantage of it. It was a good decision, because it was grey and rainy for the rest of our trip!

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