Nuuksio, the National Park, Finland - 9th August 2012
By: Eohippus
Hyvää huomenta, äiti! That´s "Good mornin', mother!" in Finnish.
Haha, I´ve learned some expressions, ye be seein', some o' th' so juicy I can´t write them here this bein' a family-safe area.
How be ye?
We ben walkin' a lot, both in forest, sea shore an' in th' town, as ye´ll be seein' in th' pics I´m gonna show ye now.
We ben spendin' lots o' time in th' Nuuksio National park area.
Thar be many things t' be seen, besides th' delicious berries an' mushrooms.
This be one o' th' many official easy-t'-follow routes runnin' inside th' park.
Besides these thar be many unofficial paths, some o' them bucketfull o' o' voyages old, originally in th' use o' th' hunters who made the'r livin' in th' forest.
This wonderful moss in th' bottom o' th' humid parts o' th' forest - 't so soft 'tis like walkin' o'er marshmallows.
Maybe 't would feel a bit similar t' keel haul in th' clouds.
The landscape here be very variatin' - thar be swamps full o' frogs, lakes full o' fish, cliffs full o', umm, ants an' dry heatherland full o', uh, heather an' hare poop.
In some places thar be duckboards leadin' o'er th' swamps.
't´s funny t' cross o'er keepin' th' one good eye shut an' t' imagine t' be walkin' on a plank o' a sea dog ship.
There be almost 250 000 lakes in Finland, an' 't feels half o' them be here in th' Nuuksio area.
But th' lakes be a source o' many kind o' joy t' us.
It´s wonderful t' sit on a branch o'er th' lake on a windy weather an' let th' swingin' t' lull ye into a slumber.
Only sometimes we wake up fallin' into th' lake!
But then we jus' climb aft or swim t' th' nearest waterlily leaf an' climb o'er 't - 'tis lovely t' lay on yer aft an' watch th' clouds sailin' above an' listen t' th' frogs teasin' th' fish on accoun' o' they cannot climb on th' dry land!
Do ye know, mom, what this funny lookin' stuff be?
't´s reindeer lichen. 'Tis what th' reindeers eat!
I tasted 't, but 't be yukky! 't didn´t taste much anythin', but 't felt lke havin' yer bung hole full o' fishbones.
Luckily thar be much better things t' be eaten in th' forest!
Th' lingonberries be jus' ripenin' in th' most sunny places.
I wonder why on earth th' reindeers want t' eat that lichen instead!
Do ye think thar might be some screws missin'?
The raspberries be at the'r sweetest.
And we be havin' also been goin nuts. Buhaha, I mean, we be havin' already found th' first ripe nuts, arrrrrrrrrr!
And o' course we always drag th' grog pot wi' us.
A grog brake be a wonderful thin' in middle o' all th' berry-eatin' an' waterlily-leaf lumberin'!
Some swabbies e'en take the'r grog water from th' lakes or wee streams runnin' trough th' Nuuksio area, they say 'tis arrr t' drink th' water after boilin' 't, but we be usually bringin' our water wi' us.
We be nay usin' compas, we be jus' goin' 'ere our noses be pointin', but e'en so 'tis sometimes good t' know what lays ahead, an' then one o' us climbs onto th' top o' a high tree t' be seein' afar, like takin' a lookout from th' crow`s nest o' a shipmate ship, ye know, mom.
Well, one tide when 't be me turn t' climb up t' check th' surroundings, what do ye think I saw? Ye´d nereguess! I saw a strawberry field!
We sneaked onto th' field, jus' t' be seein' a bit better.. an' then I realised 't be th' opportunity I´d been waitin' fer t' make me first erehijackin'!
Well, mom, that´s what seafarin' heartys do, basicly! They rob th' cargo from other vessels.. o' course th' strawberry fied be nay exactly a cargo ship, but do we need t' take these thin' so litterally?
Anyway, we be jus' hijackin' our fift strawberries into our stomachs, when th' lady who owned th' field noticed us an' be runnin' towards us cursin' worse than I´ve ereheard any bosuns mate cursin'!
So we run like hell, th' awful wannions ringin' in our heads (I learned many new useful words!), aft t' th' forest an' hid into a hole under treeroots.
We stayed thar until we couldn´t hear th' shoutin' anymore.
We thought 't be best t' leave them surroundings behind our afts as soon as possible (nereunderestimate th' anger o' insulted strawberry-field owners!), an' so we tookst a shortcut o'er a steep cliff, helpin' each other t' climb.
When we got onto th' top, we had t' rest a bit.
So we be layin' thar in th' sun, pantin', an' then started t' giggle fer our adventure when we got our breath aft.
It be a great view from thar o'er th' endles-lookin' forest.
So we stayed thar fer some time, an' then we headed aft homeport.
There I fried some pancakes fer sea dogs an' land lubbers!
They be extremely arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
A warm hug t' ye, mom! I´ll be shovin´off!
Yer Brownbeard, th' Horror o' Se'en Seas an' Blueberry Forests!
|
Posted Aug 9, 2012, 8:17 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Hanasaari - Helsinki, Finland - 29th August 2012
By: Eohippus
Hullo, dear mom!
How be things goin'? Be th' tide good?
Yer wee gentleman o' fortune here be mainly waddlin' trough forests like a landlubber o' th' first water, but, mind ye, havin' lots o' fun!
But I´ve also been on th' sea shore, enjoyin' th' fresh smell o' th' salty water an' algae, an' listenin' t' th' endless chattin' o' th' seagulls up on th' sky.
Somewhere thar towards south,beyond th' horizon be th' southern shore o' th' Baltic Sea. 'Tis good t' be able t' write t' ye trough internet, mom, instead o' sendin' messages t' sail in bottles o'er th' sea!
I like th' pufs o' algae floatin' in th' sea. I be helpin' this one t' sail aft towards th' deeper waters.
Thar be wee shrimps hidin' under 't. They be wavin' the'r antennas t' me.
There be a big pine growin' in horisontal position o'er th' water.
We o' course sailed' t' climb on th' branches.
It somehow made th' world t' turn upside down, t' be seein' th' sea glimmerin' trough th' treetop.
We keel hauled along th' shoreline an' came t' th' garden o' a former mansion an' sailed' t' take a look around.
It looks like 't be a nice place t' live in. On th' seashore an' surrounded by a rose garden. I would accept th' invitation!
Actually this be nay mansion, this as jus' a villa t' spend th' summer moons..
These roses be fer ye, mom!
Here be th' old dock o' th' mansion. Th' folks sailed here fer the'r "summer cottage" from Helsinki t' spend th' whole summer, an' when they came they tookst all the'r furniture, plants, dishes, cutlery, clothes an whatnot wi' them, an' th' servants sailed wi' th' load o' things after the'r masters.
This be 'ere th' boats 'ere towed.
The dock be big as a dancin' deck!
We spent thar some time layin' on our stomachs, watchin' into th' water an' lettin' th' waves swin' us.
We be watchin' th' beautiful landscape an' discussin' how 't would ben t' live here bucketfull o' voyages ago, an' came t' th' solution that 't would totally depend on into what kinda position we would ben born. Nay t' forget th' sex.
I rather live in this time!
We keel hauled along th' coastline towards Helsinki, about ten kilometers.
We saw many wee harbours fer wee boats.
And many wee isles, arrr floatin' in th' horizon.
I think th' sea be th' most beautiful thin' in th' world.
Besides kittenies.
After arrivin' t' Helsinki we keel hauled past th' Sibelius monument.
It´s dedicated t' th' finnish composer, Sibelius.
't has a wonderful echo! Standin' under 't, 't echoes all th' funny noises we make.
I think th' composer Sibelius wouldna be havin' enjoyed all th' sounds we be makin'!
Then we saw th' newest church buildin' o' Helsinki, th' Chapel o' Silence.
'Tis built ou' o' wood, an' 'tis meant as a place t' swabbies livin' in th' town t' be able t' listen t' th' silence an' feel th' peace.
It really be a peaceful place t' sit in, but I must say I would recommend swabbies t' go t' th' nature instead, an' enjoy th' communion wi' 't.
Be seein' ye soon again, mom!I´ll be shovin´off!
Kisses from Brownbeard, arrrrrrrrrrr!
|
Posted Aug 29, 2012, 10:44 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Old time fair, Helsinki, Finland - 26th September 2012
By: Eohippus
Hello again, dear mom!
How be ye?
I´ve been spendin' lots o' time in.. ye nereguess..
Forest! What a big surprise!
The autumn has come, an' we be havin' had floods o' rain lately.
But th' rain feeds mushrooms, an' when 'tis nay rainin', we graze amongst them like sheep - pickin' a bit here an' a bit thar.
These be Kuehneromyces mutabilis, one o' th' most common mushrooms at this time o' autumn here.
They grow on birch stumps, eatin' th' wood, an' we eat them, that´s natures circulation.
One tide we found this cosy block o' flats, an' spend a funny moment playin' t' be kuckoos o' a kuckoo klock at twelve o´klock.
We kuckooed so that th' forest be ringin'.
I be feelin' hungry.. an' so we digged from our pockets a gas cooker, an iron pan an' two kilos o' frozen convenience food, we jus' happened t' be havin' inside them..
We devoured our dinner. E'en convenience food tastes excellent eaten in th' forest!
Do ye reckon, mom, how th' kids in Enid Blytons books be always eatin' a huge amount o' interestin' things in interestin' places?
We read all o' them durin' rainy days, an' felt hungry all th' time an' totally cleared th' fridge an' pantry.
Then we continued our keel haul, stoppin' ever' now an' ag'in t' nibble whaterewe found in our pockets.
We came t' th' sea shore, 'ere we tookst this photo be we be all sayin' "cheeeeese!" t' th' camera.
Here in Finland swabbies say "muikku!" in th' similar situation. ('Tis species o' fish).
We came t' a wee sandy beach, quite empty at this time o' voyage.
Ye can be seein' how th' trees on th' other
shore be already turnin' yellow..
We made a wee sand castle. :-)
We saw a wedge o' cranes flyin' on th' sky, honkin', towards south.
I climbed o'er a cattail plant an' wawed t' them, an' they sweeped a bit lower down an' I shouted "Safe trip t' ye!"
We port th' forest fer couple o' hours t' be seein' an old time fair in Helsinki.
They be sellin' all sorts o' handicrafts, like these caps made o' birchbark. :-)
These baskets and other things be made o' willow twigs.
There be also wooden swords an' daggers, an' I be droolin' o'er them.
Don´t ye think, mom, that a shipmate ortin' ta be havin' a dagger?
Then I saw an interestin' foodstand.
Here they be makin' "loimulohi"! Another product without exact translation. They be havin' a fire on th' yardarm, an' round 't on a suitable distance thar be these wee wooden planks onto which they be havin' nailed salmon halves wi' wooden nails.
Th' heat from th' fire be ripenin' th' fish, an' at th' same time 't gets a wonderful smell from th' smoke. Th' wood burnin' has t' be alder, 't gives th' best taste fer th' fish.
Here be th' ready products.
Th' salmon be eaten straight from th' plank, whch works as a plate.
Actually, th' finnish word fer plate, "lautanen", means "wee plank"!
There be also some horses an' some swabbies in oldmodish clothes.
But we came aft homeport, 't be our bedtime already!
So, I go t' bunk t' dream about th' wee sandy beach an' th' cranes flyin' o'er 't..
Sweet dreams t' ye too, mom! An' a tight hug from yer wee swashbuckler!
|
Posted Sep 26, 2012, 4:35 pm Last edited Sep 26, 2012, 4:52 pm by Eohippus
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
National Museum, Helsinki, Finland - 6th October 2012
By: Eohippus
Hello, mother!
How be ye?
I´m sure ye be havin' heard about brainstorm, but what about brainflood?
Yer wee buccanneer has survived a sudden attack o' a very rare mental disorder.
't all started while we be in th' forest, an' I had jus' tasted a very very wee bit o' an interestin' lookin' blue mushroom. (I know i shouldn´t be havin', but 't looked so much like a sweet I couldn´t resist!)
Immediately I felt me brains startin' t' bulge, an' I felt a strong, horrible voyagenin' fer knowledge an' civilization.
I run aft t' th' cottage an' started t' read trough th' bookcase thar.
Indian culture, dinosaurs, beekeepin', astronomy..
..botanics, dendrochronology an' astrology, all th' same what 't be!
I be readin' 30 pages in minute an' I could feel steam risin' from me ears.
When I had read th' first two bucketfull o' pages o' th' big medical book, Zoe marched thar an' shouted "Now ye´re goin' too far! Yer one good eye be rollin' in yer hade! Ou'! Ou' before yer hade explodes! Go an' breath deep th' fresh air an' watch at th' clouds!"
I tried t', but instead o' th' fluffy clouds I normally be seein', all I saw be Altostratus translucidus an' Cumulonimbus capillatus! 't be horrible!
My brain be growlin' fer more information, an' thar be nothin' in th' yard, so I started t' run along th' road, an' rummaged trough carbages, readin' grog packages an' sweet wrappings an' e'en economical newspapers!
I run like hell until I saw a buildin' I reckoned an' knew that I be saved!
Th' finnish National Museum!
I rushed trough th' museum doors like a young bull, an' th' museum workers be starin' at me, the'r one good eye big as saucers, when I run past them, yellin' "Uraaaaa, stone age section, here I come!"
I devoured th' information about Mesolithic Stone Age ( 8700–5100 BC) in Finland, an' drooled in fore o' maps showin' how th' land be risin' from th' sea after ice age.
Here I´m admirin' odd stone tools, possibly club ends, wi' which th' seals be killed wi' one strong hit on th' hade.
Then I rushed t' th' Neolithic Stone Age section (5100 -1500 BC)an' made wee enthusiastic whines watchin' th' Comb Ceramic culture pottery, which be used t' both makin' food an' storagin' 't.
Th' museum workers be sneakin' in th' corners, keepin' an eye on me an' whisperin' t' each other.
The stone age representations o' crewmate beings made me t' jump from one foot onto th' other..
And when I reached th' section showin' a collection o' sculls from an Iron Age sacrificial lake called Leväluhta, an' read th' exitin' information, I couldna help yellin' "Wow!" an' "Jiihaa!" an' such..
I heard th' museum workers say t' each other "Could be dangerous" an' "straitjacket"
When I be watchin' tradiotional wooden kitchenware, which be made in Finland from stone age onwards until th' 20´th century industrial design, I could feel me brain gettin' slower, like a computer when th' hard disc be gettin' full.
I be probin' me hade wi' me paws t' feel if thar be any bumps caused by th' pressure, when two o' th' museum workers came very warily t' me an' spake "Sorry t' ask, mister gentleman o' fortune, but be havin' ye forgot t' take yer medication or somethin'?"
"Nay, I´m a toyvoager", spake I.
They bursted into a relieved gigglin' "Phew! A toyvoyager! In that case 't´s totally normal!"
Yeah, definitely me quota be startin' t' be full an' e'en overflowin', on accoun' o' when I reached th' mediaeval section o' th' museum, I didn´t feel at all like readin' anythin' about anythin', I be jus' wonderin' around in a happy cloud, an' talkin' t' th' obejcts "Arrrr, horsie! Aren´t ye a bit wee compared t' that big rider on yer aft?"
"Arrrr, wee bullie! Ye be havin' beautiful smile!!"
"Ohoy, fellas, do ye be havin' an rum?" I be beamin' an' talkin' t' ever' direction, an' th' museum workers get restless again.
"Ortin' ta we do somethin'?"
"Naah, 't´s a toyvoyager!"
"A toyvoyager? Really? Well, that explains everythin'!"
"Fifteen men on a deadmans coffin, hooray an` a keg o` rum!" I be singin` an` vaguely realizin` that th` cute sailboat be hangin` from th` ceilin`, instead o` bein` sailin` th` se`en oceans.
`t be a custom in Finland in mediaeval times that th` jacks be giftin` a wee sailboat like this fer th' local church after been saved from a shipwrec or gettin` safely trough a storm on th` sea.
Then I came t' th' section which best suited t' me in me current state o' brain-flood. Old toys!
Geeee! Eyeball this dollhouse, mom!
Could I get one like this t' live in, could I, mom? (Between th' piratin' trips, I mean, o' course).
The furnishings be all starboard too, but I ortin' ta kick th' dolls ou' first.
Well, maybe nay th' wee kiddies. They could do th' clistin' an' cookin'.
After seein' trough th' wee house I be ready t' return homeport - me brain seemed t' be in about its normal, happy state an' I be feelin' hungry!
Zoe asked me 'ere I had been.
"I be in th' National Museum." spake I.
"Aha. An' what did ye be seein' thar?" asked Zoe.
"Some old stuff" spake I.
"Hooray! Yo´re normal again! Or at least as normal as be possible fer ye!" she spake.
Then we sailed' t' be havin' grog an' buns.
See ye soon again, mom!
Don´t fill yer brain too full!
Your Brownbeard
|
Posted Oct 6, 2012, 7:08 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Kärkölä, ski jump hill, Finland - 14th October 2012
By: Eohippus
Hyvää iltaa, äiti! (Good evenin', mother!)
How be yer autumn goin'?
Ours be goin' wetly an' deliciously an' colorfully, meanin' 'tis rainin' like hell, thar be wonderful apples an' beautiful autumn foliage.
Here we be in th' yard o' our wee cottage, enjoyin' th' wonderful blessin' o' th' trees.
After eatin' many a moon only berries an' mushrooms in th' forest th' apples be a very wellcome variation.
..Arrr arrr , we be havin' also been eatin' lots o' buns an' omelettes, salads an' soups, liquorice an' icecream. 't be Henna who demanded me t' add them things, otherwise ye would think she´s starvin' me.
Our method o' pickin' th' apples be t' climb t' jump o'er them until they fall.
O' course, th' more we eat apples, th' less we need t' jump t' make them fall.
When th' sun shines (rarely) thar be a wonderful sweet smell under th' apple trees.
We always leave th' fallen apples fer wild animals, an' thar be lots o' thrushes, hares, squirrels an' deers comin' t' eat them.
Sometimes th' apples be havin' already started t' ferment, an' then they be e'en more popular. 't seems some o' th' animals like t' be loaded t' th' gunwhales.
Yesterday 't be a more bstarboard tide, an' we sailed' fer a driwe wi' Hennas matey.
We be readin' th' map an' choosin' th' route, favourin' as wee an' less-used roads as possible.
O' course on them roads 'tis nay possible t' driwe very fast, but that´s jus' th' idee - we be havin' time t' be seein' so much more, an' many interestin', remote nooks.
Every now an' ag'in we stopped on a promisin' spot, an' Henna an' th' lass' matey run around searchin' signs o' possible stone age dwellin' sites.
Meanwhile we be jus' enjoyin' th' new landscapes an' searchin' fer beautiful stones an' such.
We found many!
What odd landscape we encountered after walkin' trough a wee forest area!
We be standin' on an esker, formed by a stream which flowed within th' huge glacier durin' ice age. After th' retainin' ice walls melted away, stream deposits remained as a long windin' ridge ( huh? What do ye mean I copied this from Wikipedia?)
Now thar be a huge sandpit an' heaps which be formed o' stones o' certain sizes - wee stones on one heap, bigger stones on th' next one, e'en bigger on th' third an' so on.Here be th' machine which be separatin' th' stones accordin' t' th' size.
On th' other side o' th' sandpit we found an old wooden skijump hill.
O' course we had t' climb up thar!
Thar be lots o' stairs t' climb, but we had e'en more will t' be seein' th' views from th' top o' th' tower.
And th' view be certainly worth o' climbing!
Would ye like t' jump from here wi' skis, mom?
I would! Or maybe wi' a sleigh..
After admirin' th' views enough we came aft down.
We met a local guy who told us that th' topmost part o' th' tower be burn two voyages ago on accoun' o' some young swabbies had been thar havin' a barbeque party.
The wee red buildin' be 'ere th' jury o' th' skijumpin' competitions be sittin' an' announcin' the'r marks fer th' jumpers.
Th' jumphill be still in use. Many young jumpers start the'r practise here, before movin' t' th' bigger hills in Lahti.
The valley thar be 'ere th' jumpers land after the'r flights.
We continued our trip, an' stopped t' keel haul along th' shores o' this beautiful wee lake.
Tuli hopped into th' water again, what else. Frogs..
Then we jus' sat thar, watchin' th' sun goin' down, silenced by th' beauty o' 't.
I wish ye be seein' some beautiful sunsets too!
A warm embrace from your little pirate.
|
Posted Oct 14, 2012, 11:35 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Helsinki Herring Fair, Finland - 20th October 2012
By: Eohippus
Hello again, mom!
Greetings from th' Helsinki Herrin' Fair!
Helsingin Silakkamarkkinat (Herrin' Fair o' Helsinki) be a tradition, which started latest at 1743, from which voyage be th' oldest known documents about 't.
The Fair lasts a tides an' takes part on th' Kauppatori market square.
Both th' square an' th' be seein' in fore o' 'tis full o' booths sellin' different fish products, on accoun' o' tens o' boats be also turned into booths.
The boats come from everywhere along th' finnish coast an' th' isles, arrr, an' besides herrin' th' be sellin' products from many other fish species too - salmon, sprat, northern pike an' vendace.
They be sellin' traditional products, like smoked, salted an' dried fish, but also more moders things - fishpickles an' e'en herrin' pizza.
In bygone times fish be very important source o' nutrition fer th' swabbies livin' in Helsinki, but troughout wintertime th' sea be on ice, which prevented th' fishermen from comin' t' sell the'r fish into th' town - so th' townfolk be buin' fish fer th' whole winter in th' Herrin' Fair - mainly salted or dryed.
't be th' openin' tide o' th' fair when we be thar, an' thar be huge amount o' swabbies, lured ou' from the'r nests by th' sunny weather.
In th' openin' they thar be also a "herrin' jury" choosin' th' best products o' th' voyage.
How would ye like t' be in th' herrin' jury, mom? Tastin' about bucketfull o' herrin' products in wee hours?
Thinkin' about that possibility thar be one very good news fer ye: Thar be NAY swedish sour herrin' sold here! Phew!
We be jus' walkin' amongst 't all - watchin' swabbies an' th' boats an' th' booths, an' enjoyin' th' sun an' th' smell o' fish.
This boat be sellin' "leipää" - bread. Traditional "isle, arrr bread", which be very dark an' has triacle in 't.
Thar be also another traditional bread called "kalakukko". Be havin' ye ereeaten that, mom? 'Tis a rye bread, inside which be baked a whole bunch o' vendaces.
We be listenin' fer some time a hurdy-gurdy played by a blind man.
Some o' th' bigger boats be workin' as reastaurants. This old lighthouse ship named "Helsinki" be one o' them.
The ship be also t' be sold, can ye imagine, mom?
Would I win a lottery I would turn 't into a toyvoyager cruiser offerin' seats fer plushy passangers! Ooo how that would be great! But sadly I don´t think I´ve that kind o' luck. Although, bein' a toyvoyager be such an interestin' life anyway, that 'tis all in vain t' think about such things!
But e'en so.. can ye imagine "Capten Brownbeard" navigatin' his lightship trough th' se'en seas?
I can!
Here be another restaurant ship.
Watchin' swabbies t' eat made us feel an emptines in our tummies..
So we sauntered t' th' restaurant area an' bought a platefull o' fried vendaces.
Here they be fryin' them.
Then we be devourin' them.
Our stomachs full, we be still walkin' an' burpin' an' watchin' everythin'.
Then we came aft homeport an' ate some more.
I hope ye´ve had good meals too!
Be seein' ye soon! Hug from Brownbeard!
|
Posted Oct 20, 2012, 11:56 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Porvoo, Finland - 26th October 2012
By: Eohippus
Arrrr again, dear mom
How be ye?
I´m very well!
We be havin' had th' first snowfall o' this voyage!
't be really great t' wake up in th' mornin' an' be seein' th' earth t' be white!
But now I will t' tell ye about a trip we made t' Porvoo.
'Tis a wee town about 50 kilometers t' east from Helsinki.
Here I´m watchin' th' town o' Porvoo from th' top o' an ironage castlehill. Thar be nothin' port o' th' castle, only th' hills, but th' whole town has got its name after 't (in swedish Borgå = castle river).
We sailed' first t' admire th' ri'er an' t' peep into th' water.
Th' water in th' ri'er be very brown at this time o' voyage, when th' huge rains be havin' brought lots o' earth from th' fields, an' I certainly didn´t feel like swimmin' in 't, but th' fish didn´t seem t' mind.
What do ye think - if I catch a fish here, ortin' ta I wash 't before eatin'?
Porvoo be one o' th' oldest finnish towns, an' th' old townpart still has some mediaeval characteristics - th' narrow alleys still run 'ere they run in th' 14th century, an' most houses be made o' wood, although Porvoo has suffered so many fires that th' oldest houses be from th' 17th century.
Th' biggest fire in th' voyage 1760 be caused by a lass cookin' fish soup, ha ha..
Th' old town be so cute an' cosy, that 'tis a very popular place t' come, especially on sunny summer weekends, t' stroll on th' streets an' enjoy th' charm o' bygone centuries.
Now th' tide be pretty cool an' cloudy, an' th' streets be rather empty o' swabbies, but we saw many fat cats! A best sign o' here livin' good swabbies!
't be very funny t' keel haul along th' cobblestones. Henna be walkin' like a giraffe, but we toyvoyagers, we really had t' hop from cobble t' cobble.
We saw some remarkable buildings, like this old Porvoo Town Hall, which nowadays serves as th' Porvoo Town Museum.
An' th' mediaeval church o' Porvoo. 't be saved from th' 1760´s fire, but some young stupidos burned 't down some voyages ago. They say 't be some heavy metal - minded squadron o' young swabbies who did 't. I must say I don´t approve that kinda thin'! If they unavoidably be havin' t' burn down somethin', why don´t they go an' burn one o' th' new ugly modern churches which look like a cardboard box?
Th' church be now totally restaured, anyway.
We continued our keel haul trough th' cute town, an' can ye imagine, mom, we met thar three nice lasses who came t' ask from what part o' world we be from, an' told they be havin' a colleague who be also in toyvoyagin'.
't´s great t' meet swabbies who be havin' heard o' us! We be famous!
We saw some glorious trees in th' autumn colours.
We saw a beautiful wee square, 'ere thar be a sundial. We sailed' t' investigate 't.
How do I read time from this, mom?
I be havin' nay idee, but I thinks 't´s cool! I could be havin' one on me bedside table..
't be already gettin' dark.. as ye know, we be nay very early risers here, unless we really BE HAVIN' t'.
But we be still walkin' trough th' town center an' doin' some windowshoppin'. Thar be some very invitin' wee shops.
Then we hobbled aft towards th' riverfore, an' then strolled along th' riverside, seein' th' wee town from different angles.
Here be th' wee red riverfore warehouses, which be one landmark o' Porvoo.
Then we keel hauled onto one o' th' bridges an' saw th' ri'er Porvoo an' th' wee red warehouses from opposite direction.
An' then from th' opposite fore! ( I bet ye be havin' seen enough wee red warehouses t' last th' rest o' yer life now!
But here be still one o' us all posin' in fore o' them!
We drowe aft homeport, an' sang th' whole way a finnish song Tuli be teachin' t' us. 't tells about a frog livin' under a rhubarb leaf in mothers galley garden.
She promised t' teach a finnish song fer each one o' us accordin' t' our species. Be swashbuckler a species?
Kisses from yer wee Brownbeard!
|
Posted Oct 27, 2012, 12:11 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Turku Castle, Finland - 29th October 2012
By: Eohippus
Ahoy again, dear mother!
I wish ye be doin' well!
We be visitin' th' Castle o' Turku one tide when they had free gangplank fer students, an' Henna managed t' coax th' lass' neighbor t' loan th' car t' us.
So we drowe towards west about an hour an' half, an' then we be in Turku, an' here I´m standin' in fore o' th' castle.
This photo be from th' castle yard.
Thar be a guide tellin' us about th' history o' th' castle.
't´s buildin' started on 1280. Th' Swedish conquerors o' Finland intended 't originally as a military fortress.
Later on th' castle served as a bastion an' administrative centre in o' Finland under swedish rule. 't be built larger an' larger when th' centuries passed by.
't be very dark inside th' castle, an' I found 't somewhat gloomy too. Most photos we tookst be so dark ye can be seein' hardly anythin' in them, so I´m jus' puttin' here th' ones 'ere ye can be seein' 'tis yer wee Brownbeard in th' pic, an' nay a ghost.
Th' guide told us thar be at least four different ghosts ghostin' in th' corridores!
Th' castle be really huge, an' somewhat maze-like. I felt great t' avast t' watch th' light an' greennes abroadside th' castlewalls everytime thar be a suitable port hole.
This be th' first one o' th' two rooms wi' lightnin' - th' kings dinin' room. Can ye imagine th' kin' eatin' wi' only one visitor, lets say, another kin' - both o' them o' course sittin' in th' different table-ends an' shoutin' t' each other as a polite wee-talk o'er th' dishes?
We saw many interestin' things, an' I´m really sorry I cannot show them t' ye - fer example th' kings hade be pretty interestin', an' so be th' prisoners pit - but both o' them be too dark t' take any photos.
This be th' other room which had lights on - th' castle chapel. Thar be an organist playin' while we be thar, an' 't be nice t' sit an' listen fer awhile.
Th' castle be in very bad condition in th' beginnin' o' th' 20´th century, but 't be renovated troughout many decades, an' fer example this chapel be painted accordin' t' old mediaeval manuscripts describin' th' original works.
Here we be restin' a bit between th' many storeys an' staircases.
Then we climbed th' last stairs t' th' uppermost storey 'ere th' be a museum representin' many o' th' items found in th' castle an' its surroundings durin' th' archaeological excavations an' th' reconstruction.
Thar be lots o' dubloon- an' silverware, an' other luxury items, which certainly be rare in mediaeval Finland, but e'en so I think I would rather be havin' lived in a cottage e'en in mediaeval times than in a castle this gloomy.
Th' cottage certainly be warmer, an' maybe thar e'en be less lice.
When we had seen everythin' thar be t' be seen ('ceptin' th' ghosts - them only move in nighttime, they say) we came ou' from th' castle an' spent still some time on th' yard.
't be only half an hour t' th' sunset when we get ou', an' so 't be too late t' go an' be seein' other parts o' th' town o' Turku, which be a bit o' a shame.. but maybe some other time, who knows!
Goodbuy, gloomy Turku castle!
An' a hug t' ye, mom! Be seein' ye soon again!
Yer wee seafarin' hearty
|
Posted Oct 29, 2012, 9:52 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Taking a bath in Nuuksio, Finland - 30th October 2012
By: Eohippus
|
Posted Oct 30, 2012, 10:51 pm Last edited Oct 30, 2012, 10:55 pm by Eohippus
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Lisbon, Portugal - 27th November 2012
By: Eohippus
Ahoy!,Ahoy! mom! Olá, mãe! Your little pirate be in Portugal and has been here allready for two weeks. I´m sorry I´ve had no possibility t' make uploads before, we have been so awfully busy - eatin' and seein' new places and eatin' more, you know..
So we flew here in t' beginnin' o' November. Here we be on t' Helsinki airport watchin' t' planes t' be washed ( Iknow how they feel!)
Our first plane, t' plane t' Frankfurt was late, and Henna was a bit nervous if we would have enough time t' catch our second flight t' Lisbon. But we toyvoyagers were just enjoyin' ourselves - we be so experienced travellers that we don´t care much about were we be - we be always "here" - t' "here" just travels from one place t' another.
There be christmas trees all year round in Helsinki airport t' stress t' fact that Finland be t' country where Santa Claus (Joulupukki in finnish) lives, although some unenlightened people imagine him t' live in North Pole or who knows where.
At last we get into our plane, but sadly we didn´t get a window seat, so we couldn´t take photos trough t' window.
So we were just runnin' and climbin' over peoples feet and heads and makin' everyone go crazy by sin'in' a finnish song Tuli taught t' us, which has hundred verses, until t' airhostesses brought us coffee, and I doubt they had mixed sleepin' pills into it because we slept rest o' t' flight and only woke up for few moments in Frankfurt airport where we took our second flight.
So it was already late night when we arrived t' Lisbon and saw t' river Tejo for first time. Beautiful, isn´t it?
We get into our Portuguese home in Almada, which be in t' opposite shore o' river Tejo, just opposite Lisbon, and thar we ate t' wonderful what crawled out o' t' bung hole our portuguese buckos had prepared just for us - wonderful soup.
And delicious sardine.
Then we were introduced t' Sibila, an eighteen year old siamese cat, who has got enough personality and temperament t' share with five other cats.
Next day we made our first seightseein' round in Lisbon. Zoe, who has already been here many times, was workin' as our turist guide, with a red sign t' follow and all.
Here we be watchin' th' "Cais das Colunas", which be th' place many centuries ago 'ere portuguese ships returned from the'r trips t' Africa an' other faraway areas, loaded wi' robbed bountiful booty.
It be great t' feel th' warm sand under our paws.
Fer local swabbies 'tis o' course winter, but fer us, comin' from Finland, 'tis a summer.
We keel hauled t' be seein' th' Praça do Comercio, which be one o' th' main squares o' Lisbon. In mediaeval times 't worked as a place fer public hangings, an' later as a place 'ere th' most important shippin' companies be placed.
These pompous buildings be 'ere the'r headquarters be situated. Nowadays they work mainly as restaurants. Thar be also a museum tellin' about th' history o' th' city.
We saw some nice azulejos (tiles) wi' which th' buildings be here paved in older times. Portuguese swabbies learned th' style from th' moors durin' th' moorish occupation.
Then we sailed' t' be seein' another important square called Rossio.
And th' statue o' kin' Dom Pedro V. (An' a guy who tried t' sell us some interestin' lookin' pills).
[size=2 We climbed into a viewpoint called Portas do Sol (Doors o' th' sun) t' admire th' beautiful view o'er th' city o' Lisbon]. [/size]
There be very cute trams passin' by ever' now an' ag'in, an' Henna told us that part o' them had been in traffic since 1930´s. We wanted t' make a driwe !
It be very interestin'! Th' driwer be pullin' all sort o' wheels an' handles an' th' old tram be makin' huge noises, shakin' an' rockin' along th' streets.
The tram tookst us t' Belem, 'ere we saw th' monastery o' Belem, but 't be closed since 't be a mondee, an' we be still goin' t' make a proper visit.
The portuguese royalty be bowin' the'r heads t' us, which be quite natural, o' course, krhm!
We be hangin' fer awhile in a wee, beautiful park.
There be a nice roof, 'ere th' colorfull leaves form th' pavement. Th' local old guys sit under in summer evenings playin' dominoes or cards, but now 'tis too cold fer them.Nay fer us, tho! But we be a tough gang.
Then we came aft homeport an' ate some bread from th' Alentejo area, which has a hade.
Be seein' ye again, mom! I try t' write soon!
Yer Brownbeard
|
Posted Nov 27, 2012, 2:27 pm Last edited Nov 27, 2012, 2:46 pm by Eohippus
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal - 15th December 2012
By: Eohippus
Bom dia, mãe amada! (Good tide, dear mom!)
We be havin' had a great time here in Portugal! We ben seein' many many interestin' things an' places.
This time I´m goin' t' be seein' ye pics from Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, which be a wee town about 30 kilometers from Lisbon.
The tickets t' th' quinta be o'er our limited budget, so we climbed thar o'er a wall..
"Quinta Regaleira be an amazin' estate, built by Carvalho Monteiro, who wished t' build a place 'ere he could gather symbols that would reflect his interests an' ideologies - alchemy, Masonry, th' Knights Templary, an' th' Rosicrucianism.
Th' construction o' th' current estate commenced in 1904 an' most o' 't be concluded by 1910" says Wikipedia.
So, besides th' palace itself which ye could be seein' behind our afts in th' first photo, thar be a chapel, many pools, grottoes, towers an' underground tunnels an' labyrinths.
The park o' th' quinta be rather big an' grows many interestin' species o' trees, like these giant sequoias.
Doesn´t 't sound jus' th' place fer wee toyvoyager brats t' go investigatin' around, huh?
That be exactly what we did, anyway.
Thar be lots o' entertainin' statues t' climb on.
Some o´them very nice.
We investigated ever' possible wee path..
..an' climbed ever' tower thar be t' climb
..
.. and admired th' marvellous view o'er th' landscape from up thar.
We sat in th' sun an' listened Henna readin' from a book how th' mysterious, spiritual cult used th' quinta as the'r meetin' point, an' how 't caused lots o' rumours o' horrible happenings (like cannibalism) goin' on in th' quinta amongst th' deeply catholic inhabitants o' th' nearby villages.
Then we sailed' in search fer th' underground passages.
We searched´from many promising looking caves.
And at last found one hidden gate t' th' underground world behind this statue o' Diana.
Th' passages they's self be so dark we couldn´t take pics inside them. We had a wee flashlight wi' which 't be possible t' find our way.
The underground passages an' grottos be created fer some rituals which tookst place in th' quinta in th' beginnin' o' th' 20th century.
One o' th' passages led us t' th' bottom o' this initiative well, 'ere th' new members o' th' cult had t' spend a night an' go trough a spritual trip
There be windin' stairs ou' from th' well, an' here ye can be seein' 't from a different perspective.
All th' investigatin' an' runnin' strated t' make us feel a bit hungry..
So 't be really great we found some wild strawberries.
And a nice bench 'ere we sat eatin' them.
Then we went to see the rest there was to be seen.
That be all this time, mom.
I try t' write again as soon as possible.
Kisses from Brownbeard
|
Posted Dec 16, 2012, 12:15 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Monsaraz, Portugal - 17th December 2012
By: Eohippus
Boa tarde, mamã querida! (Good evenin', beloved mom!)
Thar be so much t' tell an' show t' ye, mom!
't´s hard t' decide what t' show ye this time.
.. mm, arrr, I´ll tell about our trip t' Monsaraz, a wee town near spanish border
in a province called Alentejo.
We tookst a train, a bus an' an another bus t' get t' Monsaraz.
Here we be sittin' in th' train, eatin' our provicions.
It be very early in th' mornin', an' still pretty dark abroadside,
but we enjoyed th' views on villages passin' by, anyway.
(Aye, aye, all starboard.. Zoebe shoutin' that 't wasn´t th' villages passin' by,
but us.. )
I put here a pic o' th' sunrise we saw from th' trainwindow.
I hope ye don´t mind a pic without me.
Here we ar in Évora, waitin' fer th' first bus t' take us
t' Reguengos de Monsaraz.
The road be runnin' trough huge olive groves an' wineyards.
Here we be waitin' fer th' second bus t' take us t' Monsaraz,
enjoyin' "bicas" in th' bus station café.
"Bica" be how they call these wee cupfulls o' strong grog.
Travellin' be so much nicer when thar be cafés an' provisions.
There be lots o' wee brats goin' aft t' the'r homes in th' surroundin' countryside
from the'r schools in Reguengos de Monsaraz, an' th' busdriwer knew
them all by the'r names an' knew 'ere each o' them lived..
We arrived at last t' Monsaraz.
'Tis a wee mediaeval town, situated on a high point from 'ere thar be
a good view o'er th' surroundin' countryside.
Most houses an' th' street pavement be made o' chist, as ye can easily be seein' in this streetview.
Here we be sittin' on th' citywall, from 'ere our gaze could reach also th' spanish area - nay that thar be any notable difference.
Round th' town be many farms, an' we could be seein' flocks o' sheep an' hear the'r bells ringin' an' the'r "baa"in' - both very pleasant sounds!
We keel hauled around th' wee town, followin' th' citywalls, peepin' into yards (oh what oranges an' lemons!) an' admirin' th' landscape.
Here ye can be seein' one o' th' eight gates on th' wall.
The streets be totally empty o' swabbies, th' only swabbie we saw be a young cat.
While walkin', we discussed about how 't would be t' live in a place as wee as this.
Could be a bit stressin'.
But beautiful 't certainly be, an' maybe that could somehow balance th' fact that yer ever' neighbour would know how many panties ye be havin' in th' closet (or if ye don´t be havin' any).
Here be part o' th' fortifications o' th' town.
Next tide we sailed' fer a keel haul in th' countryside.
'Tis hard t' b'lieve 'tis Decembree, mom!
Thar be flowers an' insects buzzin' busily everywhere under th' olive trees.
Here be some ripe olives t' ye, mom!
Th' olive harvestin' be goin' on - we saw many full loads been driwen t' th' markets.
We saw also many wineyards, but th' wineharvest be already over, an' th' wine plants be havin' turned yellow an' red fer th' winter.
There be many megalith monuments in th' region, an' we sailed' t' be seein' one o' them - Penedo dos casamentos (th' stone o' marriages) - which be an ancient fertility cult site.
Originally th' marriage ritual consisted o' th' couple climbin' o'er th' stone an', umm, spendin' thar th' night together, so t' say..
Later on yong couples be throwin' wee stones o'er 't, an' if they stayed on top o' 't, th' planned marriage be promisin'.
Here be some more olive trees. Beautiful, isn´t 't?
But honestly sayin', thar wasn´t much else t' be seein'..
Most o' th' megalith monuments be in someones private property, an' they be all surrounded by fences an' had very efficient dogs guardin' them..
Here we be climbin' a cork oak.
Next tide we came aft t' Laranjeiro, but we had some hours time in Évora t' wait fer th' train, an' so we sailed' t' be seein' a bit o' that town too.
'Tis much bigger than Monsaraz.
We saw a roman temple, dedicated t' goddes Diana. Although, thar be an older temple already when th' romans came..
Then we did some windowshopping.
Then we visited a spooky place, Capela dos ossos, 'ere th' walls be decorated wi' bones.
I´m sorry th' quality o' th' photos be rather lousy - 't be very dark in there.
I wouldn´t choose this ornamental style into me below decks.
That be all from this time, mom - be seein' ye soon again!
Kisses from yor wee swashbuckler.
|
Posted Dec 17, 2012, 5:37 pm Last edited Dec 17, 2012, 5:44 pm by Eohippus
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Laranjeiro, Portugal - 31st December 2012
By: Eohippus
Hyvää uutta vuotta (Good New Year), mom!
How be yer Christmastime, mom?
Here we don´t be havin' snow nor icicles hangin' from th' roof nor other that kinda natures own christmas decoration, but instead we be havin' forest full off these beautiful red berries
We ben preparin' fer christmas by also makin' decorations o' our own fer th' christmas tree.
We made these wee hearts ou' o' clay.
And picked wonderful wee pine cones an' painted them red. 't be very fun!
We be watchin' th' presépio (crib) in th' centrum o' Laranjeiro
Then we had a traditional portuguese christmas dinner o' boiled cabbage, potato an' carrot wi' codfish, o'er all o' which we sprinkled olive oil an' lemon.
Then we decorated th' tree wi' our own decorations an' wi' all th' traditional balls, chains an' such.
When th' tree be ready an' beautiful, we spotted an elf on th' balcony!
Can ye b'lieve 't, mom ?
He be in a hurry nay t' be seen too clearly, but he had port us a bag full o' somethin'!
Christmas chocolates t' sea dogs an' land lubbers!
We be eatin' them an' singin' christmas carols (nay so easy wi' th' bung hole full o' choc.. rolleyes: )
We offered some choc fer th' cat Sibila too, but she haid she would rather be havin' some codfish, than ye.
So we gave th' lass' some
Then we be spendin' LOTS o' time in th' christmas grog table, wi' all sorts o' cakes.
This one be called Bolo Rei (kin' cake)
This cake be "tronco" - some kinda relation t' th' english "yule log".
Almonds and chestnuts!
We ben havin' a very merry christmas, an' I wish ye, mom, an' all me siblings an' toyvoyager shipmates be havin' had a great time too!
A warm hug from Brownbeard
|
Posted Dec 31, 2012, 5:40 pm
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Cabo da Roca, Portugal - 7th January 2013
By: Eohippus
Hello, dear mother an' all th' siblings!
How has yer voyage begun?
Here 'tis a bit hard t' b'lieve 'tis midwinter,
since abroadside 'tis full summer (from me point o' view).
We ben hikin' a lot in different landscapes -
this time I´ll show ye photos from th' westernmost point o' mainland Europe.
Cabo da Roca be a wee place on th' shore o' th' Atlantic Ocean,
about 35 kilometers north from Lisbon,
an' a somewhat important turist site, on accoun' o' o' th' fact that 'tis th' westermost place o' th' mainland Europe,
an' also on accoun' o' from thar opens wonderful landscapes o'er th' sea.
We sailed' thar wi' a train an' a bus.
Here we be havin' allready port th' "turistical" area somewhere long behind us -
most o' th' turists jus' stay near th' lighthouse ye can be seein' in th' aftground,
but we tookst one o' th' wee paths circulatin' in th' hills, used by th' local swabbies.
It felt like we had suddenly stepped into one th' films about "Wee Heidi"or "Sound o' music",
an' soon we be singin' happily, although wi' slightly "tuned" lyrics -
"Th' hills be alive wi' th' sound o' MEWING" .
We be apin' th' yodellin' sounds our portuguese hosts cat Sibila be makin' at nights, ye be seein', an' gigglin' like hell.
We saw some wonderfull flowers - I think these be some sort o' wild crocuses,
an' that o' course suits t' th' christmastime very well, although th' landscape otherwise didn´t much fit me mental pics o' Christmas (wi' snow an' sleigh an' jingle bells..)
Only the sheep be missing..
We climbed o'er a steep, rocky hill, uh huh, 't be hard!
But 't be worth o' 't!!
We met th' Atlantic Ocean! An' th' view be really magnificent!
Here, mom, can I introduce ye - Here be me mom, here be th' old Lady Atlantis.
Nice t' meet ye!
Cabo da Roca be also a holy place in prehistoric times -
thar be found items related t' th' cults o' Moon an' Sun,
an' 't be holy also fer th' romans who occupied th' area.
'Tis easy t' understand, I think.
How could a place this beautiful be anythin' else than holy?
There be still swabbies worshippin' th' natur spirits here, since ever' now an' ag'in on our hikin' trips we be havin' encountered an "altar" -
a table laid fer them in some beautiful spot.
Usually thar be an opened keg o' wine or grog an' fruit or bread t' eat, like here, on th' table we found in a wee rivervalley in Cabo da Roca.
Then we be jus' wanderin' around, somewhat stunned views, an' dizzy wi' th' sun mirrorin' from th' blue sea.
The wind be risin', an' Henna started t' be lily livered o' 't blowin' us away.
Baah, we be all experienced explorers! She ortin' ta think a bit herself what she be doin', before openin' th' lass' umbrella in a place like this.
A moment we thought we would soon be seein' a second Mary Poppins.
We saw an invitin' wee sandy beach down thar, but 't be really gettin' dangerously windy, an' we had t' return aft towards th' inland.
But first we rested a bit behind a hillside.
We tookst another wee path aft towards th' turist-filled busstop, but on our way we be still enjoyin' th' illusionary feelin' o' remotenes.
'Tis a funny thin' - here 'tis really possible t' be alone in th' universum a kilometers distance from a spot full o' turists like ants, on accoun' o' they really behave like ants too - only keel haul after each other.
We saw more beautiful flowers on our way.
This must be somekind o' aster, or what do ye think, mom?
Cabo da Roca be one o' th' most beautiful places I´ve seen. I think I would like t' come here again some tide.
Be seein' ye soon again, mom!
Yer adventurous wee swashbuckler.
|
Posted Jan 7, 2013, 11:43 am
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra, Portugal - 8th January 2013
By: Eohippus
Hello again, mom!
We ben runnin' an' hikin' an' climbin' rocks so
that e'en ants would look lazy compaired t' us!
Today I´m goin' t' put here photos we tookst on our trip t' th' ruins o' th' moorish castle o' Sintra.
We be walkin' uphill an' uphill trough th' steep wee alleys o' th' mediaeval town o' Sintra.
The alleys turned into narrow stairs leadin' us trough th' forest.
It be a bit rainy tide, but luckily thar be lots o' umbrellas around us..
It felt like th' stairs would nereend!
I think me muscles be havin' grown a lot durin' this visit.. what do ye think about that, mom?
We saw some interestin' things on our route, like this "balancin' stone".
Then we reached paths nay known t' many swabbies.
Just watch yer wee buccanneer fightin' his way trough th' jungle, his machete swirlin' port an' starboard!
"Now we be havin' t' start t' climb!" spake Henna
in fore o' this stone, an' I thought she be jokin'.
She wasn´t.
So we climbed under, o'er an' between heaps o' gigantic boulders, sometimes along treetrunks or
creepers, all th' same what, desperately climbin' upwards an' upwards..
When we reached about halfway o' our climb, we stopped t' win our breath aft on a rock called
"Penedo da Amizade" - Th' Rock o' friendship.
Very suitable place t' rest a bit wi' shipmates. [size]
[size=2]See how high we be allready!
Yo can e'en be seein' th' Atlantic Ocean
as a blue stripe in th' horizon.
From th' Penedo do Amizade we could also be seein' th' walls o' th' moorish castle 'ere we be headin' t'.
Thar be some tourists in th' castle an' when they saw us
climbin' on th' rocky hillside, they look horrified, cannot imagine why..
Anyway, we be makin' faces t' them, ha ha.
At last we reached th' castle ruins!
T' me 't looked like a miniature Wall o' China.
"The castle be constructed durin' th' 8th t' 9th century, durin' th' period o' Arab occupation o' th' Iberian peninsula", says th' Wikipedia.
Why do they need t' use so pompous language, mom?
"Th' castle be constructed during" Humph. Why they don´t jus' say "Th' moors constructed th' castle while they be occupyin' th' area"?
1147, after th' moors had lost Lisbon in th' fights against th' christian forces, th' castle surrendered voluntarily.
Durin' th' next centuries th' castle be servin' in military purposes as well as religious ones (thar be a hermit monastery at some time), but durin' th' 17th century 't be let t' ruin, until th' 19th centurys romantic movement motivated th' kings t' rebuild 't into "visually suitable romantic ruin".
Visually suitable? How would a visually unsuitable romantic ruin look like?
Maybe 't would be constructed ou' o' sement?
Later on, some serious archaeological research projects be havin' taken place in th' area, th' results tellin' a lot about th' mediaeval lifestyle.
Nowadays th' castle be a very important turistical attraction.
An' that be easy t' be seein'. We be bumpin' against them in ever' corner.
Most o' them o' course jus' tookst th' sissy, official way into th' castle, nay like yer adventurous wee buccanneer here.
We be enjoyin' specially th' great views from th' castle.
Here ye can be seein' th' Sintra town down thar.
And in this pic thar be th' silouette o' th' royal Pena palace behind our afts.
Henna says 'tis a great place t' be seein' too, but that photographin' be nay allowed inside at all.
So we climbed again up an' down th' walls t' be seein' everythin' from ever' possible angle, an' me wee paws be startin' t' complain a bit, uh oh.
So we be restin' a bit before startin' our climbin' aft down again.
We be discussin' how great 't would be t' be havin' a helicopter takin' us into such places.
See ye soon again, dear mom!
Kisses from yer wee Brownbeard.
|
Posted Jan 8, 2013, 6:22 pm Last edited Jan 8, 2013, 6:26 pm by Eohippus
[Quote] [View just this post]
|
|
|