Weekly Travels 22-26

The computer is downstairs and when I first tried it last week, it worked a treat. Not however, today. So, back to the phone it is. Last week’s challenge proved to be difficult, but I do have a point to give to Yamini for knowing it was Leni Riefenstahl, a film maker from Germany.

It was Claus who sent me the card and he made sure this was a woman with a decidedly contoversial life as she filmed the Berlin Olympics of 1936 and was a fervent supporter of that moustachioed idiot they had ruling Germany from 1933 until he committed suicide in 1945. Leni did however have a great talent at film making. 

On to this week’s challenge now. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

PS, this is a cropped postcard, so I might or might not have been here 😁.

Weekly Travels 22-25

David from Australia sent me last week’s challenge slash postcard. And the person depicted on the card was Barry Humphries in the guise of Dame Edna Everage. Points go to Hilary and Yamini. Well done Possums!

This week’s challenge is again a person, because even if I have my computer up and running again, I quite like this bit of the challenge. So, who is this, where does this person hail from and have you ever been to the country this person comes from? Give us your story. Answer next week.

Weekly Travels 22-24

Well, last week’s challenge wasn’t necessarily the worst. Mustafa had sent me the card all the way from Jordan and it was of course Petra. That was all it said on the card, so if there is more to it than that, I wouldn’t know as I have never been to Jordan. 

Points go to Yamini, Gerrit and Gera.

This week it’s another postcard, but this time once again of a person. So, who is this and where does she come from? Details gets points people! Answer next week. 

Weekly Travels 22-23

Wow, you certainly know your stuff folks! And even though several names got bandied about (even Laura Ingalls of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ got mentioned by my Mum), the correct answer was of course: Anne of Green Gables. A fictional character living on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Yamini and Debby get half a point each (no Canada mentioned). Hilary gets 3/4 point, Gera gets a whole point. But I think we can all agree that Millie & Walter deserve a point and a half for their answer!

My story? I saw the series years and years ago in my teens, but only read the book quite recently. I know a series is out there, but I don’t know if anybody can surpass Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert.

On to this week’s challenge and thanks to the world of postcrossing it is a location one again. I may or may not have visited this place. So where is it? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

Weekly Travels 22-22

Last week’s challenge was definitely easy and difficult in one. I think everybody realised this was a church, but that is not enough folks! I wanted to hear ‘stave’ church and only one person said that and knew where it was. Gerrit gets s whole point. And 1/4 point to those who had Norway somewhere in their answer: Harm, Gera and Yamini. 

My story? On my very first visit to Norway in April 2012, I saw this stave church in Heddal, about 120 km West of Oslo. It think it was open, but too dark for photos. 

On to this week’s challenge. Which is a bit different as I have run out of good scenic postcards. Although I do still want as much info for the points of course. So, who is this and from what country is she? Have you ever met this person or been to that country? Tell us your story. Answer next week. 

Weekly Travels 22-21

This computer of mine is really not cooperating for whatever reason. Probably because I am not using it often enough. I am working on getting it downstairs now, so I will (be tempted to) use it more. In the mean time I don’t have access to my travel photos or my blog, which in turn means I have to depend on the postcards. But another problem has cropped up: no viable cards. I do think I finally found a solution though. First however…

Last week’s challenge was (according to the postcard) Alexanderplatz in Berlin. Yeah, I didn’t get that either. The most prominent feature though is the ‘Fernsehturm’ or TV Tower. Points to Yamini, Gera and Gerrit. 

This week’s challenge is a photo of a photo. What and where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer ‘at some point’!

Weekly Travels 22-20

Perhaps a better way of calling it. Still trying for Tuesday though and failing spectacularly immediately. On to the challenge at hand. This was the bobsleigh track in Winterberg, Germany. Only Gerrit got the complete answer and gets a whole point. Millie &Walter realised it was somewhere in Germany and get 3/4 point. Yamini, Fun60, Gera and Hilary each get 1/2 point. 

My story? I visited Winterberg less than two years ago and saw this track from quite close by. I still want to go down in a bobsleigh some day. I will pass at the tea trays…

On to this week’s challenge, which is another Postcrossing card, so keep in mind there is a chance I have not visited. What/where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week. 

Tuesday's Travels 22-19

I am back at the computer again! And here to tell you about last week's challenge. Which you all knew as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, USA. Points to Gera, Hilary, Yamini, Millie & Walter, Fun60, Debby and Gerrit. 

My story? I obviously have never visited, but it was one of the cards I received through Postcrossing. When I run out of photos of places I have been, I can use those. As long as I crop a bit better than I did this time around...

On to this week's challenge. What and where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

PS: Update: I got my days muddled up: I thought today was Tuesday. So sorry.

Tuesday's Travels 22-17

I wouldn't blame you if you have already given up on me. If not: thank you so much. I completely forgot the first week and then last week (even with a concerned email from Yamini), I just never got around to it. However, I am back now and here to tell you that the last time the light did come on, it was of course on the White Cliffs of Dover, England. Points go to Gera, Bettina, Fun60, Yamini, Hilary, Millie & Walter and Gerrit. 

My story? I have seen these Cliffs quite often. Each time I traveled between England and France, they are there. Now, you might also have heard the song about those very cliffs. Just saying: there are no bluebirds in England, but apparently it sounded good in the song.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week (yes, NEXT week!).

Tuesday's Travels 22-16

Pre-posted folks, so I won't miss out again... Anyway, last week's challenge resulted in three completely right answers, and since some of you gave a completely wrong answer, albeit in the right country, I have decided only the right answers get points. Yamini, Gerrit and Fun60 knew/guessed this was the Arena in Verona. Not Rome, nor Arles (which was also a good guess by the way, just not good enough). 

My story? I visited Verona years ago. In fact, my first ever enjoyment of a pizza was on the piazza facing this arena. I have never been inside. Perhaps in the future some time.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-15

I missed last week! Shame on me!! I hope you will forgive me. But I am back now and I hope you have not all run for the hills. Last week's challenge was a mixed bag of answers. Although most of you were in the same sort of area (ie Eastern Europe). It was of course a guard in front of Prague Castle in Czechia (or Czech Republic). Gerrit gets a complete point, Yamini and Gera get half a point and Hilary gets a quarter point. Oh, and Gerrit also gets a point for the Sacré Coeur, I only saw his answer today.

My story? In 2016 my sister and I made our way to Prague and did a lot of walking. A lot of walking! One of the things we visited was Prague Castle and right in front was this guard. I think we were even there for the changing of the guard, which was a simple affair.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week (yes, NEXT week).

Tuesday's Travels 22-14

Last week's challenge was of course the Sacré Coeur in Paris, France and plenty of you did get that right. So, points go to Yamini, Fun60, Bettina, Harm, Debby and Hilary. 

My story? During the same trip to Paris as the Versailles outing, my sister and I spent a day in Paris doing the rounds. And one thing we also saw was this church. We got all the way up there (I think we took the funiculaire), but did not go inside, which is something that needs to be rectified at some point in the future I think. 

On to this week's challenge then. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-13

A toughie again last week it seemed. Nobody got it completely right though, although two were very close. It is a statue of Pope John Paul II in Krakow, Poland. Some of you mentioned one, some the other, Yamini mentioned he was the last pope (which was in fact Benedictus XVI, JP II was the one before him) and she switched from Krakow to Warsaw (which is the capital of Poland). So, here is my verdict: Gera and Yamini both get 3/4 point. Hilary and Gerrit get 1/2 point and Janice gets 1/4 point. 

My story? Well, on my trip with Gera through central Europe, we visited Krakow. Karol Józef Wojtyła was born close to Krakow and is still quite a prominent feature in that city. They are very proud of him and they had a sort of park/square where several of Krakow's great and good were honoured. He was one of them. 

On to this week's challenge then. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-12

Oh yes, typing two handed again right now, which means it's easier to tell you about last week's challenge. Which was of course (drumroll please) Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland. Several people of course got points, my sister Gera (who happens to live in NI) not being one of them. However, the following did know: Gerrit, Harm and Yamini. Congratulations.

My story? When I lived in NI myself, my parents came over and on one of the days we went and visited this site. It is of course a ruin, but its location is spectacular as it is right on the North Coast. As my sister said in her comment: it is on one of the main sight see routes and we have done a fair bit of the eastern bit, but have yet to do the bit that goes from Bangor up north.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

tUESDAY'travels 22-11

good morning everone (or good afternoon, evening). shamefully late trhisv week, my apologies. last week's challenge was a challenge inedeed as only one person got it right; my dad gerrit. it was the dam near Tignes in France. and no, it ism't shakin stevens or elvis. it's  supposed to be hercules! as i said only one person got it right so a point to gerrit.

my story> during the winter of 1991-1992 i lived and worked in tignes and crossed this dam a couple of times. in facrt i think this photo was taken when my parents came to pick me up. 

on to this week's cjhallenge: where is this, have you ever been> tell us your story. answer next week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-10

Plenty of you knew last week's challenge as you have visited this site as you visited me when I was living in Norway. It is called Haraldshaugen and is located in Haugesund (where I used to live). Points go to Bettina, Gerrit, Harm and Yamini. 

My story? Well, not really mine, but Harald's! Harald Fairhair is considered to be the man who united Norway back in the day. He started off as just another leader of his tribe and one day he saw a woman he fancied. He started courting her, but she had her sights set a bit higher and wouldn't give him the time of day. She did give him a challenge though: unite all the the different areas of Norway and she would reconsider. So, Harald set to it and after a while he had united the whole country. Fortunately the woman was true to her word and they got together. A thousand years later in 1872 this monument was erected as he is supposed to be buried nearby. The money was raised by public subscription.

Now, on to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-09

I think I can safely say, this was a shoe-in! Everybody knew where and what this was and most of you have been there. So, points go to Debby, Fun60, Gera, Gerrit, Harm, Hilary, Janice, Millie & Walter and Yamini. 

My story? I have seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris only a handful of times. With a finger missing! When I took this photo I was sight-seeing with my sister. My parents were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and the whole family (including brother and his family) were staying not too far from Eurodisney and Paris. My sister and I spent a day looking at the sights of Paris, although we did not really visit any of it. Too much to see, too little time. And as my sister mentioned: it was brass monkeys! 

On to this week's challenge now. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week.

PS: Janice mentioned last week that I might do a trick photo or something, like a replica of something in another place. Well, I could and would, but only if I have been there. So, far I have not been to China, Japan or Las Vegas. So far...

Tuesday's Travels 22-08

Wow, several of you knew this was the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium, built for the World Expo of 1958. It represents an iron molecule. Points go to Bettina, Fun60, Gera, Gerrit, Harm and Yamini. Millie and Walter get a quarter point for mentioning molecule.

My story? I have seen this landmark several times, most often because I went to a large multiplex cinema which was in the same area. I remember watching Home Alone there when I was living in Brussels for a few months. I think this photo stems from a holiday my sister and I took to Belgium and Luxemburg around 1996, but apart from this photo, we did not enter the building, going to the cinema instead. Since we were there it has been completely overhauled.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week. Oh, and by the way, look out for the antsy story later this week.

Tuesday's Travels 22-07

It was clear from the start that some people knew what last week's photo was all about, although there were also some people who were a bit confused by the commenting, even phoning me to say there was something wrong. No Dad, there wasn't! He did however get the answer right and gets a point, together with Harm, Hilary and Fun60. It was the Duomo in Florence, Italy. 

My story? When I visited Florence I took my trusted camera with me again, but like in Liverpool, the batteries ran out and this is one of the few photos I managed to take before it went black. I could have gotten more batteries, but I was more concerned with getting an ant trap, as I had an ant investation on my coach, as I had parked above their route I guess. I finally had to hose them out in Siena. 

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week!

Tuesday's Travels 22-06

Did you think I had forgotten? Well, you were right! I did, I had, I was. As in forget, forgotten, forgetful. As I have to tick each day as it's gone by to just keep any semblance of knowing what day it is, I hope you will forgive me. Back to the 'game' then. Last week's challenge was for some easier than for others, but as several of you so rightly said: it was Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) near Stavanger in Norway. Bettina, Gera, Harm and Gerrit get a point each.

My own story? Well, Bettina said it was easy, but I can tell you that it very much wasn't! In fact it was my first foray into Norwegian walking and it proved to be very hard. I will leave you with the link to the story I wrote back when I actually walked up it and sat on the edge!

Before getting onto this week's challenge, let me just say I altered the commenting bit again so that no other answers show. So where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week!