dimanche 31 janvier 2016

Sculptures from the Vigeland Park, Oslo. NORWAY










The Vigeland Park is the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions. The park is open to visitors all year round.
The unique sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's lifework with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. Vigeland was also in charge of the design and architectural layout of the park. The Vigeland Park was mainly completed between 1939 and 1949.
Phootos from Summer 2014

jeudi 28 janvier 2016

Hvar. CROATIA








Hvar (local Croatian dialect: Hvor or For, Greek: Pharos, Latin: Pharina, Italian: Lesina) is a city and port on the island of Hvar, part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia.
The city of Hvar has a long and distinguished history as center for trade and culture in the Adriatic. An independent commune within the Venetian Empire during the 13th to 18th centuries, it was an important naval base with a strong fortress above, encircling town walls and protected port. Cultural life thrived as prosperity grew, and Hvar is the site of one of the oldest surviving theatres in Europe, opened in 1612. The seven-century old walls still survive, as do many of the noble houses and public buildings from 15th - 17th centuries.
The port of Hvar, set in a picturesque natural bay, with the Pakleni Otoci island chain protecting it to the south, is a safe haven for boats year round.
Photos from October 2015

lundi 25 janvier 2016

Bregançon and the Var Coast. FRANCE








Photos from 2012/2015 in Bregançon, Le Lavandou and Porquerolles island

vendredi 22 janvier 2016

mardi 19 janvier 2016

SI Phan Don (The 400 Islands), LAOS







The Si Phan Don (meaning The 4000 islands) is a riverine archipelago located in the Mekong River, Champasak Province in southern Laos. Si Phan Don is characterised by numerous islands, half of which are submerged when the Mekong River is in flood. The principal islands of Si Phan Don are Don Khong (the largest), and Don Det and Don Khon. Photos from October 2013

samedi 16 janvier 2016

Mostar. BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA





Mostar is a city and municipality in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated on the Neretva River, is the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognizable landmarks, and is considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans.
Between 1992 and 1993, after Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia, the town was subject to an 18-month siege by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). Remains of this troubled epoch are still visible all over the town (See photo 4)

The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat–Bosniak War. Subsequently, a project was set in motion to reconstruct it, and the rebuilt bridge opened on 23 July 2004.

mercredi 13 janvier 2016

Cat Ba National Park, VIETNAM






Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands spanning 260 km2 (100 sq mi) that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam. Cat Ba island maintains the dramatic and rugged features of Ha Long Bay, half of its area is covered by a National Park. The island has a wide variety of natural ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial, leading to incredibly high rates of biodiversity. Photos from October 2013

dimanche 10 janvier 2016

Haghpat Monastery. ARMENIA







Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, is a medieval Armenian monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia, founded probably in 976. The nearby monastery at Sanahin was built around the same time.
Described as a "masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages", Haghpat monastery, together with Sanahin monastery, was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996. Photos from Summer 2015