Alternative presentation of the situation of the world

A visit to the local market

I love markets! This picture is from the market in Quetzaltenango or Xela in the Guatemalan highlands.

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is said to be one of the most beatiful towns in the north of Spain, and after seen it myself, I can confirm that statement. If you ever go to this part of Spain, this is a must!

Eastern Parade in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

I am back in Guatemala for a few weeks, working and enjoying the Guatemalan eastern traditions. This afternoon this parade passed us in the central park.

Arboleda

Difficult to imagine how this landscape looked like during the industrial time when the mines were still open and functioning, an area according to the spanish writer Luis de Castresana, the “real Balcony of Vizcaya”.

Arboleda

25 years ago, the last mines in Arboleda were closed, and this is how it looks today.

The Guggenheim Museum

Inagurated October 1997. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, claimed to be one of the most important ingredients in the plan to redevelop the city of Bilbao, is the result of a process of collaboration between the Basque authorities and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Bilbao

Bilbao on a sunny day is great. If you look closely you can see the Guggenheim Museum.

From the top

Puente Colgante

The Biscay Transporter Bridge, build in 1893 and declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2006, is the oldest of its kind. The bridge offers two options for crossing, by gondola or by foot over the bridge. We went for the last option, and I must say, the view was great!

Arboleda

Bilbao

I have moved to Bilbao for a few months, so for everyone in the area, bienvenid@s! (Welcome)

Newgrange

Ireland's most famous monument

Newgrange

Newgrange is one of the best examples in Ireland and in Western Europe, of a type of monument known to archaeologists as a passage-grave or passage-tomb. It was constructed around 3200BC, according to the most reliable Carbon 14 dates available from archaeology. This makes it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and 1,000 years more ancient than Stonehenge.

Trim Castle

Before entering the castle, I must admit that living in a castle seemed tempting. After the tour however, I changed my mind. For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to visit a castle, it is cold!!!

The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

One interpretation of the name Tara says that it means a "place of great prospect" and indeed on a clear day it is claimed that features in half the counties of Ireland can be seen from atop Tara. There are a large number of monuments and earthen structures on the Hill of Tara. The earliest settlement at the site was in the Neolithic, and the Mound of the Hostages was constructed in or around 2500BC.

Hills of Tara

The archaelolgical site at Hill of Tara is 5,000 years old. Many theories and assumptions have been conjectured about its purpose. The popular belief is that the site served as the sacred ceremonial grounds from which the ancient High Kings of Ireland ruled for a thousand years.

Hills of Tara

Stavanger city centre

Stavanger

On the boat between Hommersaak and Stavanger

Christmas in Norway