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Showing posts from January, 2015

Walking part of the Levada dos Pionais and living to tell the tale

Yesterday we walked one of the many levadas here on Madeira. Our host Jorge drove us to the nearest one and started the walk with us along with his dog Zuulaika and a neighbor's dog.  He then bade farewell after a few minutes and we were off. The beginning of the walk was a wide path with beautiful views - "this levada walking is a piece of cake" I thought.... As you can see the scenery around us was beautiful.  We then actually got to a levada....which was pretty cool.  Mostly there were bars alongside the exposed areas (although if you lost your footing and did not hang on you would not have a happy ending) so it was easy going. And then we got to some tunnels.... Yes, we had to squat over and slither through, no hope of preserving any dignity there.  I forgot to take my backpack off for this tunnel... oops.... Then we got to the bit where we walked along a thin strip of pavement that was approximately 14 inches wide with no ba

A 30 year old dream realized

Well here I am on the beautiful island of Madeira - somewhere I have wanted to visit since the 80's.  It's not high on North American radars but it should be... on second thought, no no you don't want to come here.... I don't want it to become too popular you see because to me this is paradise.  The temperature right now is about 17C for a high and then cools off at night.  Our airbnb home is lovely and the view from the house is spectacular.  It is west of Funchal, the main town and overlooks the ocean and Funchal.    When we arrived the airport bus dropped us off too early and luckily a young fellow walking by helped us out by phoning Jorge who came to pick us up there instead of the bus stop we were supposed to be dropped off at.  Stress!  Once we got here though we were thrilled to bits.  Jorge served us home made soup on our arrival and it was delicious. Home sweet home for the next week Oh yes and June brought the type cover for my tablet so I am now in bu

Here she is finally in Lisbon!

Well here I am... a week late and a few dollars short.. or should I say a few pounds and euros short.  As I am pecking away on my online keyboard I can hear the rain pouring down here in Lisbon but it is supposed to stop for a while later this morning.  I've had quite a bit of rain here but then again it is winter and beats the snow at home any day. I had a couple of reasons for not blogging.... this insane keyboard.  I have a surface tablet and have the touch keyboard which is driving me insane. Not good for typists like me..more for the pecking crowd which is what I have to do.  Relief is coming next week in the form of a new keyboard.(and even better a friend to join me) I also have had problems getting into blogger but for now I have found a way in.  The other reason?  Feeling a bit down in the dumps despite being in this beautiful city,  Why? On my arrival into Lisbon by airport bus we hit a woman apparently jaywalking.  I did not see it but heard a horrible loud thump and

Moseying around the East End of London on a Sunday afternoon

I had full intentions of finishing up a 10 km walk today, I really did.  Then I got on the train and changed my mind....  So off I went but silly me got off at the wrong station.  I got off at Whitechapel so had a bit of a walk to get to Brick Lane...but it was a new area for me so it was all good. So without further yakking I will let the pictures tell the story...street art and food basically...it was the Sunday Upmarket today but I resisted going in and looking at the craft stalls.  I will do that in a few weeks with a friend....Sunday is THE day to go to the East End if you like markets....and get off at East Aldgate tube station and away you go!  Christ Church Spitalfields in the background Very popular place as you might guess.  Momos!!  Yes that was lunch. Side street

Reporting in...one month on the road

Well one month ago today I headed off on this big adventure....first stop Iceland and then onto London.  As I was on the bus "home"tonight I was thinking how much I am enjoying this and feeling so lucky to be in the city I love above all others.  I know I am fortunate to do this...nothing to tie me down and having the financial resources to make a long standing (since 1979!) dream come true. So I thought I'd write a summary of what this last month has brought to me - both good and bad...hopefully I will do this on approximately the 10th of every month until June. Beds slept in:  three so far...Snorri Inn in Reykjavik, Iceland; Iolanthe (my home from home) in Hampstead Garden Suburb and here at my pet sit in Alperton, Wembley.   High point:  There have been lots such as the joy of seeing all my favourite London sights again, spending Xmas with my buddy Pat, enjoying the magic of the Nutcracker but the spine tingling best bit was the Christmas concert at the Royal

A walk along the Grand Union Canal from Alperton to Greenford

 When I took on this petsitting job I had no idea there was a canal anywhere near Wembley so it was a pleasant surprise. Since arriving I have wanted to walk the tow path from Alperton to Greenford and finally the right day arrived.  This morning was sunny but clouds predicted for the afternoon. Rain is predicted for tomorrow and cloudy on Sunday and then I am outta here so it was a case of now or never. So off I went.  I had done part of this trail a couple of times previously but instead of turning around I carried on.   The same gang of swans were there to hiss and give me dirty looks as I passed by. Moody teenage cygnet It was pretty quiet along the tow path and I only ran into the odd walker - or should I say nearly got run over by the odd cyclist...don't get me started.  Is it too hard to say bike on your left/right or ring a bell..?   It was hard to believe I was in one of the biggest cities on the planet as it was so peaceful.  I realize that one of the walks I