Printable View
There’s an amazing Prison in Cyprus Mick. The inmates are treated like a community. The reoffending rate went down from 50% to 15% just because they were treated like humans and a family instead of animals (like some prisons) Run by a Danish woman I think?.Quote:
Originally Posted by mickd1961
Went to my nephew’s wedding in Portugal last year. It was in a remote rural area outside Porto. I was really taken with Porto and the locality. The sea was spectacular. Another thing I noticed there was just how important they take the matter of design, from large buildings (Porto airport), street art, the internal finishes of buildings down to knives and forks.
I think I’ve said it before on here but without a shadow of doubt my favourite place in the world (I have been around) are the Canadian Rockies. Beautiful and jaw droppingly spectacular. Jasper is a small town high up in the mountains. I remember walking out the first morning. I was a little dizzy such was clear, fresh nature of the air. I just thought that in an ideal world I would love to live there. However, fire ravaged the area in the summer and the whole town was evacuated. So sad. I don’t know if it is the same now but British Columbia and Alberta should be given consideration.
This place was a truly hidden gem that blew my mind.
Only about 20 miles NW of Madrid but there are no trips from the capital. Nearby is a small village but there are no signposts and no advertising. No public transport you have to drive.
We arrived mid morning on a huge car park with just 1 other car present. Most obvious is the world's tallest christian cross on top of a hill. To enter the basillica you have to go through airport type security. It's been carved out of solid rock into the side of the hill and amazingly it's bigger inside than St Peter's in Rome. There only 2 other people present.
It used to be a very popular attraction but a few years back the government closed it. There were calls for it to be blown up! It has reopened but it's future is still under scrutiny.
Why all the security and lack of popularity. It's Franco's tomb (his body has been removed.) He is still revered by many but loathed with a passion by most Spaniards. All that aside it's a truly awe inspiring piece of architecture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_the_Fallen
Never been to The Rockies, but my two mind blowing places are in the States, Crater Lake, Oregon and Crand Canyon, both breathtaking :heart::heart:Quote:
Originally Posted by Q165
I locked myself out of our room this morning whilst nicking extra tea bags etc from the maid’s trolley.
I then realised the eife couldn’t help me as she was locked out on our balcony as the only way the room air con will work is with the sliding doors actually locked.
So she’s frying on the balcony and I’m having to return the stolen stash back to the trolly before getting security to let me back in.
Then half an hour in the phone trying to get Barclays to lift security restrictions on my business account!
It’s been a day of unbridled joy so far!
Came back from the Rockies in June. Jasper was a fabulous place to stroll around and it so distressing to watch those scenes of the fire which has devastated half the town. Some wonderful places to visit including Banff and Lake Louise as well. Saw tons of wildlife including lots of bears roaming freely. Went from there down to Vegas so chalk and cheese comes to mind. I'd thoroughly recommend the Canadian Rockies to anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Q165
This really made me laugh. Locked out stealing tea bags. Tight git. Oh well, at least you knew where to find the wife 😅😅😅 .Quote:
Originally Posted by mickd1961
That looks a really interesting place and somewhere I'd seriously consider visiting. Cheers for posting the link. Got to ask questions of the moron who thought it would be a good idea to bury Franco on a site of 'national atonement' though. Talk about a lack of awareness.Quote:
Originally Posted by 9goals2hattricks3pen
In fairness to me, the tea bags and coffee are meant to be topped up each day but our maid seems to have dementia, she’s been very poor in regards to replacing water, clean cups and these other items.Quote:
Originally Posted by Albionic68
That’s the only gripe really, the hotel is lovely.
We’ve taken to nicking Candarel from the restaurants though as room replacements haven’t been enough and we’ve managed to cadge fresh milk from behind the bar.
Some small wins in an otherwise very expensive week!