Travel for Life: January 2023

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Faro Travel—Visiting Ludo Hiking Trail

Golf course along Ludo Hiking Trail

Ludo Hiking Trail ⭐⭐, a circular route (click here to see the map), crosses a border between the terrestrial environment and the lagoon system of the Ria Formosa, showing different habitats: forest patches, marsh areas and salt marshes.^[1]

This route is a segment that crosses São Lourenço where we can observe a scenario of fresh and salty waters conducive to some plants and water birds that make this place their sanctuary, including ducks, grebes and coots, piadeiras and trumpet ducks. Along the way, you can also see a wide complex of creeks and salt pans where white salt is extracted. Pleasant route to explore this beautiful marsh located near Faro.

Photo Gallery

The below photos were taken on 01/12/2023, a sunny day.

Beautiful golf course along the trail

A plane arriving Faro airport

References

Caminho do Ludo - São Lourenço - Salinas

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Scotland Travel—Visiting National Museum of Scotland

In 2019, National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, received 2,210,024 visitors, making it Scotland's most popular visitor attraction that year.

As well as the national collections of Scottish archaeological finds and medieval objects, the museum contains artefacts from around the world, encompassing geology, archaeology, natural history, science, technology, art, and world cultures.

Why Is It Called National Museum?

Although the United Kingdom is a sovereign country, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also widely referred to as countries. The UK Prime Minister's website has used the phrase "countries within a country" to describe the United Kingdom.

The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom).

Photo Gallery

The below photos were taken on 12/26/2022, a cold winter rainy day, which had forced me to stay in the museum for warmth. But, it is worth of visiting especially for its Ancient Egypt displays which the museum has a good collection of them and is not as crowded as in British Museum.

40 Lilliput salt and pepper set designed by Stefano Giavannoni
41 Gianni storage jar designed by Mattia Di Rosa
42 Inka cafetiere designed by Guido Venturini


Black Vessel Kondo Yutaka (1932-83) developed a type of black body ceramics. He stamped the surface of this vessel using a technique known as rouletting.


Travelling service This travelling service belonged to Princess Pauline Borghese, the favorite sister of the Emperor Napoleon.

Robert Burns—a Scottish poet and lyricist (see also "Star O' Rabbie Burns")

Outlines of Grandeur designed by Laurance Whistler

São Jorge Castle: A Must-Visit for Lisbon Visitors (With Images)

Saint George's Castle (Portuguese: Castelo de São Jorge) is a historic castle in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.^[1]

The hill on which Saint George's Castle stands has played an important part in the history of Lisbon, having served as the location of fortifications occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors, before its conquest by the Portuguese in the 1147 Siege of Lisbon.

Since the 12th century, the castle has variously served as a royal palace, a military barracks, home of the Torre do Tombo National Archive, and now as a national monument and museum.

Photo Gallery

São Jorge Castle⭐⭐ is a must-see for any visitor to Lisbon. It is an extensive site, so expect to spend the whole morning exploring. In addition to the castle itself, with its eleven towers, there is also a small museum, a bar, and a restaurant. From the top of the fortress, you'll have the best views of the east of Lisbon and the sunset.

The below photos were taken on 01/03/2023, a sunny day.