October 18 to November 9, 2010 - Lisbon, Portugal
Another stay in Portugal for my mother's birthday.
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October 18, 2010
Lisbon viewed from the plane just before landing.
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October 8-9, 2010 - Frankfurt/M (Germany)
After 40 years, I came back for a visit to this old town where I lived in the 60's. Click on the picture to see the slide show in Multiply.

September 3rd-5, 2010 - Porto (Portugal)
Short stay in Porto, Portugal.
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September 3rd, 2010 - Régua to Porto (Portugal)
From Régua to Porto, Portugal.
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September 1st-2nd, 2010 - Vila Real (Portugal)
Short stay in Vila Real, Portugal.
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August 30, 2010 - Basel (Switzerland)
Half-day visit to Basel on my way to Geneva once again.
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July 29 to August 2nd, 2010 - Geneva (Switzerland)
During my stay in Geneva, I visited again the Botanical Garden where a venue had been organized in collaboration with Pro Natura Genève: IN SITU EX SITU. Click on the picture to read more about this subject in my blog.

July 22nd, 2010 - Lisbon (Portugal)
I'm again in Portugal. Short visit to the Belém Botanical Garden.
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July 20, 2010 - One-day trip to Alentejo (Portugal)
One-day trip to Alentejo, Portugal, visiting the Neolitical complex of Almendes, (at about 1.5 km from Evora), the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe. Visit also to Evora (UNESCO World Heritage site) and to the little town of Arraiolos (famous for its wool carpets). Click on the picture to see the photos in Multiply.

July 18, 2010 - Tejo and Sintra (Portugal)
Enjoying summer in Portugal! Boa trip on the Tejo river followed by a short drive to Monserrate in Sintra (UNESCO World Heritage site).
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July 15, 2010 - Lisbon (Portugal)
My father's 95th birthday! A date to celebrate. But he does not like parties - though he loves a good meal! - so we stayed home and had lunch under the pergola. He was at least surrounded by all those he loves.
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April 29, 2010 - My birthday dinner (Luxembourg)
This year for my birthday, I stayed around and celebrated with Gustavo and Anna in Luxembourg. Click on the picture to increase.

March 31st to April 6, 2010 - Geneva (Switzerland)
On the trip back from Portugal I stayed a few days in Geneva. Stroll thru the Botanical Garden. Spring was already pointing its nose...
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March 9-31st, 2010 - Lisbon churches (Portugal)
I spent a few days in Portugal with my “old folks”. And as Lisbon has a lot to discover ... Photos of beautiful churches by clicking on the picture.

February 2-24, 2010 - Beautiful India
When visiting a country, I've an interest not only for the monuments and natural beauties but I also love meeting people, above all children and juveniles. In general, people in India are very friendly and come spontaneously towards you asking to be taken on photo. This obviously creates wonderful pictures.
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February 22-24, 2010 - Bombay (India)
Stay in Bombay visiting friends with whom I had taken a cruise in Egypt back in 2005. During the day Sharmila showed me round in Bombay.
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February 20-21st, 2010 - from Badami to Goa (India)
Another long bus journey up to Goa, which we reached at the end of the day. We visited the Bom Jesus cathedral, the Se cathedral, and the churches of São Francisco de Assis. We stayed at hotel Vanginum Valley. We spent the next morning at the beach near to the hotel. In the afternoon we flew from Goa to Bombay.
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February 19, 2010 - Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal (India)
We visited the main monuments of the Aihole site: Ladkhan, cave of Ravana Phadi, Huchimali, Hucchapaya. In Pattadakal, the beautiful temples of Galaganath and Virupaksha. Back to hotel Badami Court.
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February 18, 2010 - Hospet to Badami (India)
On our way to Badami, discovery of a few more temples: Banashankari and Mahakuteshvarnatha. In the afternoon, visit to the four rock-cut cave temples facing lake Agastya Tirtha. Also the museum and three more temples inside the village. We stayed at hotel Badami Court. Click on the picture to see the photos in Multiply.

February 17, 2010 - Hospet, Hampi, Hospet (India)
We spent the whole day visiting the ancient Hampi site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Personally I believe that other monuments in India were more entitled to be listed, and the dirty condition of most parts of the site should by themselves be a reason to remove Hampi from the list. I know there is a lot of controversy going on about this subject and I feel that its removal from the world heritage list – even on a temporary basis – could be a a good idea for the Indian government to take measures about the serious lack of hygiene in the country. It’s necessary you travel there to be aware of the situation. Back to hotel Krishna Palace. Photos coming soon.

February 16, 2010 - Hassan to Hospet (India)
Long bus journey through the Karnataka and the high Deccan plateau up to Hospet. Stay at the hotel Krishna Palace. Photos coming soon.

February 15, 2010 - Mysore, Halebid, Belur, Hassan (India)
On the way to Hassan, we made a stop to visit a village market. Soon after that were we climbing the 640 steps leading to the Sravanabelagola temple, a very important prilgrimage centre for jain culture where stands the colossal statue of Gomateshwara carved out of monolithic stone. Visit to a few other temples: Chennakeshvara in Belur, Hoysaleshvara and Kedareshvara in Halebid, e Lakshimi Devi in Doddagaddavalli. Stay at the hotel Hoysala Village Resort. Photos coming soon.

February 14, 2010 - Mettupalayam to Mysore (India)
Mudamalai national park en route to Mysore through beautiful mountain landscape, spice plantations and eucalyptus forests. On the summit of the Chamundi hill stands a colossal statue of Shiva’s sacred Bull (Nandi), the second biggest statue of a Nandi in southern India. We reached Mysore at the end of the day and could admire its famous Indo-Islamic palace illuminated, a very unusual thing. We stayed at hotel Regaalis. Photos coming soon.

February 13, 2010 - Pallakad to Mettupalayam (India)
After crossing the beautiful landscape of the Nilgiris mountains, we took a two-hour trip in the Toy train, that train of old times that is also listed by UNESCO. This made me think: is our Douro historical train also listed by UESCO? Both the train itself with its steam engine and the spectacular Douro landscape have nothing to envy to those of India. On the contrary. Why is it then not listed? Night at hotel Kunumba Village Resort. Photos coming soon.

February 12, 2010 - Pallakad, Silent Valley, Pallakad (India)
Early in the morning we left to Silent Valley, one of the most well preserved national parks in southern India, and enjoyed a two and a half walk. Doesn’t this photo remind you of a certain animal? Well, this was “naturally” carved by one of them... Back to hotel Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort. Photos coming soon.

February 11, 2010 - Kumarakom, Irinjalakuda, Pallakad (India)
This day we met the actors of the Kûtiyâttam theatre (see video in YouTube), a performing art dating back to about 2000 years and also listed by UNESCO. We had lunch with the group. On route to Pallakad we visited a few temples. Hotel Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort. Watch the video (1) in YouTube.

February 10, 2010 - Peryar to Kumarakom (India)
While native to Brazil, the cashew plant was introduced to India by the Portuguese. (read about this health fruit in Our friends the PLANTS). On the outside wall of the Orthodox church of Kottayam, Kerala, you can see a high relief showing an exotic bird (probably one also brought from Brazil) with a cashew nut in its beak. The Kerala region is rich in tea plantations. Night at hotel Coconut Lagoon that, as its name indicates, stands by the lagoon where we experienced a relaxing boat excursion. Photos coming soon.

February 9, 2010 - Madurai to Peryar (India)
Visit to Adam’s spices garden. Rice plantations and other earth products. Walking tour through the Peryar National Park. In order to keep “spiced”, we stayed at the hotel Spice Village. Photos coming soon.

February 8, 2010 - Karaikudi to Madurai (India)
Early in the morning, walking tour thru Karaikudi, in the Chettinad region, once the homeland of a prosperous banking and business community who built there manificent mansions. On our way to Madurai we passed the Thirumalai fort and visited the Minakshi temple. Stay at Hotel Heritance. Photos coming soon.

February 7, 2010 - Swamimalai to Karaikudi (India)
In Darasuram, visit to the temples of Airavateshvara and Brihadishvara, to the bronze gallery of the old Nayak palace, and to so many other wonders of India. We also visited a bronze workshop where artifacts are still made in the traditional way. Stay at hotel Chettinadu Mansion. Photos coming soon.

February 6, 2010 - Pondichéry, Chidambaram, Swamimalai (India)
En route to Swamimalai we visited Chidambaram and other temples: Natâraja, Chola temple of the XI century, temple of Kumbeschvara... Night at hotel Sterling Indeco Anandham. Click on the picture to see the photos in Multiply.

February 5, 2010 - Mahabalipuram to Pondichéry (India)
We continued our visit of the Mahabalipuram site, which included the famous Shore Temple (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage), a survivor of the tsunami that devastated the Bay of Bengal on December 26, 2004. Stay at a hotel in Pondichéry. Click on the picture to see the photos in Multiply.

February 4, 2010 - Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuram (India)
Visit to a few temples: Varadaraja, Kailashnatha, Ekambareshvara... Night at hotel GRT Temple Bay. Click on the picture to see the photos in Multiply.

February 3rd, 2010 - Madras to Kanchipuram (India)
Flight from Brussels to Chennai (former Madras) on February 2nd. Our trip to southern India actually started on the 3rd: Madras Museum, Tara Books, Tiger cave near Mahabalipuram. Hotel GRT Regency.
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January 4, 2010 - Lapa Hotel, Lisbon (Portugal)
The Hotel da Lapa in Lisbon is a sheer wonder. Even going to the toilettes becomes an agreeable moment! Three days later, again in Belgium...
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January 1st, 2010 - My "old folks" (Portugal)
My “old folks” on the first day of the year. Click on the picture to increase.