Tag Archives: www.chaputfootprints.com

Picos de Europa

September 19, 2024 chaput@live.com

We went to explore part of the Picos de Europa which is a mountain range extending for about 20 km (12 mi). It forms part of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain.

We drove to the small community of Camaleño. This is where the longest single span cable car aerial lift is located. The cable car known in Spanish as “teleférico de Fuente Dé” .

We lined up and waited for our turn to go up to the top located 1,850-metre (6,070 ft) high. As we waited in line we watched the cable car ascended to the top of the mountain.

We took a selfie just before entering the cable car and heading up the steep incline to the top of the mountain.

The cable car has a capacity of 20 people and the entire trip only takes 3 minutes and 40 seconds. The cable car moves at around 10-metre (33 ft) per second.

We were amazed at just how fast we travelled up to the top.

The views on the way up were breathtaking with rugged mountains on all sides.

We reached the top in 3 minutes and 40 seconds and were instantly greeted with amazing views of the picos de Europa mountains.

Shelley on top of one of the picos de Europa mountains.

The photos do not give justice to the beautiful, spectacular vistas.

Ray on the top of the Picos de Europe in Cantabria

We walked along the ridge area of the mountain exploring the views that seemed to change at every step. We stopped and took it all in admiring the beauty of nature.

It was so peaceful and quiet with only the sound of the wind. As we walked and came across different views it was just breathtaking.

We were very lucky because the lack of clouds made visibility great. It was not too long though and we could see the clouds moving in.

Clouds starting to gather on top of the mountain range.

At first the clouds covered some far peaks but quickly the clouds rolled in and visibility was almost nil.

It was a breathtaking and beautiful day in the mountains, it was a great way to spend the day.

“Cada día es un regalo, disfrútalos”

Spain

A visit to beautiful Santander in Cantabria Spain

September 16, 2024 chaput@live.com

We went to Cantabria to visit friends and explore the area over a few days. One of the spots we explored was the city of Santander. Our first stop was the Palacio de la Magdalena. It is located on the Magdalena Peninsula which is a 69-acre peninsula located near the entrance to the Bay of Santander.

The palacio was built in 1911 and used as a summer residence for the Spanish Royal family until 1931. It was then used for summer courses for the Menéndez Pelayo International University.

Today the Palacio is the most visited place in the city of Santander and continues to be used as a conference and meeting hall.

Augustine, Alicia, Shelley and Ray on the stair of the Palacio de Magdalena

The views from the Palacio gardens were spectacular. Looking over the bay and towards the Cantabrian Sea.

View of the Cantabrian Sea and a Lighthouse in the distance.

The City of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria. It is a port city and located in the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Cantabrian Sea.

We walked through the downtown area exploring the beautiful architecture and streets.

The head office of the Santander Bank which the city is named after.

The Gran Casino del Sardinero in Santander

After exploring the area we decided to stop and enjoy some tapas and a drink at the Mercado de la Esperanza.

Main entrance to the Mercado de la Esperanza in Santander

Inside the mercado were many unique and interesting food stalls.

We walked along the rows until we found a nice spot to stop and enjoy some tapas.

Afterwards we walked along the waterfront exploring that area of the city. We came across some interesting monuments along the way.

The Raqueros statues along the pier in Santander.

These statues represent the era when children worked the pier to earn money to survive. The statues pay respect to the children that worked for a living.

Monument Fire Statue in Jardines de Pereda Santander

The Monument Fire Statue in Jardines de Pereda marks the devastating fire that occurred in February 1941 in Santander. The fire destroyed a large part of the historic center of the city,. Fortunately only one person lost their life however thousands of families lost their homes and businesses.

View of a section of the waterfront area of Santander.

We continued our walked along the waterfront and decided to take a break at the local marina. We had a great view and enjoyed a relaxing time watching the ships and boats.

It was a very enjoyable day in Santander and we really enjoyed exploring this historic city.

“Disfruta cada día porque cada día es un regalo”

Austria

Schönbrunn Palace

August 12, 2024 chaput@live.com

Today we decided to go and visit the UNESCO world site the Schonbrunn Palace. The Baroque palace is a massive building with 1,441 rooms and has a long rich history spanning over 300 years.

view of a section of the Schonbrunn Palace

Ray, Janice, Scott and Shelley at the front of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna

We began by walking along the front of the palace until we reached the side entrance to view some of the interior rooms of the palace. We explored three of the main rooms which had some impressive features.

The ceilings were works of art and made the rooms seem almost alive.

Massive wooden and gilded Chandelier in the Great hall of the Palace

We walked along the corridors admiring the baroque designs of the palace

After walking through a small portion of the palace we headed outside to the gardens. We began in the garden pavillion then headed towards the main garden area.

The garden Pavilion at the Schonbrunn Palace

The gardens were immense and had stunning features. we walked through the main garden area and headed towards the Gloriette on the hill top.

View of the gardens from the rear of the Palace with the <Gloriette on the hill in the background.

Along the way towards the Gloriette we stopped at the Neptune Fountain called the Great Parterre area of the gardens.

At the rear of the fountain was an area where you could see through the fountain and see the Palace in the distance.

Scott, Janice Shelley and Ray at the Neptune Fountain with a view of the palace in the background

We continued our walk up the hill and we came to a small pound in front of the Gloriette.

We continued up the hill until we reached the Gloriette.

The Gloriette which is the garden axis points towards a 60-metre-high (200 ft) hill.

From here there were beautiful views of the Palace and Vienna in the background. It was truly worth the long walk up the hill.

View of the Schonbrunn Palace and Vienna from the Gloriette

The Gloriette structure is one of the iconic parts of the garden. Erected on the top of the 60-metre-high (200 ft) hill, it is a focal point of the garden.

Built in 1775 with stone recycled from another site, the military-themed columns and arches are made to represent to glorify Habsburg power.

We stayed at the Gloriette for a while enjoying a well deserved rest and admiring the views before heading back. We walked down through a hedged area of the gardens. There were sculptures and statues along the way.

We worked our way to the exit and then headed back. It was a long day but quite enjoyable.

“den Tag zu genießen”

Austria

Vienna, Austria

August 10, 2024 chaput@live.com

We arrived in the centre area of the city of Vienna by train . The city which has a population of over 2 million is the capital of Austria.

The Schmetterlinghaus, The Butterfly house, Vienna

Donnerbrunnen Fountain in the Neuer Market Square, Vienna.

We walked into the historic centre of Vienna and we were greeted by spectacular architecture and a lively atmosphere.

Emperor Franz I, The Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the ruler of the other states of the Habsburg monarchy

We explored the centre weaving our way through the timeless streets and sites.

Arches of the State Opera Building in Vienna

A caryatid on one of the Vienna buildings in the old quarter

The rich history of Vienna could be seen in the architectures of the buildings.

Hochstrahlbrunnen Fountain and monument in Vienna

Statue out front of the Albertina Museum, Vienna

Along the way we came to a museum called Time travel. We decided to try something different and went into this museum.

Inside the museum we experienced an array of multimedia displays and 3D virtual experiences that were truly amazing.

In the Time Travel museum with 3D virtual glasses

Ray with statue of Roman in the Time Travel Museum

It brought to life the history of Vienna in a way that was truly enjoyable and memorable.

We went to see the St Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the old quarter of Vienna. The Romanesque and Gothic styled Cathedral was constructed starting in 1138 and is spectacular to see.

View of the roof tile design of the church

One of the features of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is its ornately patterned, richly coloured roof which is covered by 230,000 glazed tiles.

The inside of the church is decorated in ornate Gothic and Romanesque styles.

After a long day of exploring the city, we decided to go and have a nice meal before heading back to our room for the night. We enjoyed our first day in Vienna and look forward to tomorrow and more adventures.

“Wir sind hin- und hergerissen zwischen der Sehnsucht nach dem Vertrauten und dem Drang nach dem Fremden und Fremden. Oft haben wir Heimweh nach den Orten, die wir noch nie gekannt haben.”

Hungary

Our last day in Budapest

July 29, 2024 chaput@live.com

Today was our final day in Budapest before heading on to Vienna Austria. We decided to take in a visit to the Hungarian National Museum.

Scott, Janice and Shelley in front of the National Museum of Hungary

What a beautiful Museum and very detailed history of Hungary from its creation to its current time.

We walked through the museum learning all about the rich and troubled history. The torments of the wars and their break from the soviet union.

The largest piece of the Stalin monument which was torn down during revolution and destroyed.

It was very interesting how this country has evolved from behind the Iron curtain to become the modern country of today.

It was very special to us to experience the National Hungarian Museum and learn in detail about the history of Hungary.

_______________________________________________________________

Here are some of the other neat and interesting things we experienced during our time in Budapest.

There is a detailed replica of the moon’s entire surface, including its far side located in the Piarista köz passageway. The moon floats in the air on very thin wires at a height of 3.5 meters.

The moon is an accurate replica and you can see the details of the moon up close. At night it is lit up and provides a spectacular view.

We came across a transparent statue which was very unique. The photos do not give it justice. As we walked around the statue it was semi-transparent and would come into and out of view.