Spanish Andalusia olive trees

Olive trees field after fire.

Near the town of Baeza in the Province of Jaen in Andalusia, Spain, the landscape is dotted with a mass of olive trees which thrive in the warm sun. Olive trees have been around since 3500 BC and will easily produce fruit even when planted in the most unproductive land. The olive tree has been known throughout the world as a symbol of wisdom and peace with various religious beliefs behind it.



Photo taken on 28th of June 2009.

Maciek.

Cordoba, La Mezquita.

The world´s third-largest mosque remains a place of grandeur. Built on remains of Visigoth city with so many centuries of Islam and Christian prayers is it definitely a place with some mystical power.
Shot during our tour of Spanish Andalusia. 26th of June 2009.



Model: NIKON D80
Date/time: 2009-06-26 14:14:32
Shutter speed: 7 sec
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
F-stop: f/16
ISO: 160
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Did not fire
Focal length: 12 mm
Lens: 10.0-20.0 mm
Exp -0.3
Remote control.



Maciek.

Las Medulas - the Roman gold mine

Las Médulas, located in the region of El Bierzo ( Castile and León, Spain), used to be the most important gold mine in the Roman Empire. Las Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites.

Hard to believe but this landscape of natural beauty is men made.

We were lucky to explore that area in mid June 2009.




Maciek.

Egitania - ones a busy roman city

A lonely bird cruising above the Sé Cathedral, Idanha-a-Velha forgotten village, Beiras, Portugal.

For me the essence of Portugal lies very much "off the beaten track". I many times have the privilege to visit small and forgotten wonders of this country. Places like Idanha-a-Velha - a small village far away from the typical mass-tourism trails.

Ones a flowering Roman city that has grown at the outskirts of the Roman Empire now a small forgotten village: Idanha-a-Velha ( roman "Egitania" ) is located in the eastern Portugal, not far away from the Spanish border. At about 16 A.C the city had more than 1000 inhabitants.

Google map location

Many Roman tomb inscriptions left all over the city.

Roman city walls.

Maciek.

Sunset over Ocreza Lake

The sunset over Ocreza Lake, middle Portugal.

The lake is located in the eastern Portugal, not far away from the Spanish border.

Google map location

Photo:

Date/time: 2008-06-16 21:00:15
Shutter speed: 5 sec
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
F-stop: f/20
ISO: 100
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Did not fire
Focal length: 12 mm
F/20
Lens: 10.0-20.0 mm
Exp -0.3 Remote control. Tripod.

Maciek.

Azores Islands - Continued ( 2 )

Lagoa Azul ( The Blue Lake ) in the old volcanic crater.
São Miguel Island, Azores.
End of the day, 06th of June 2009.

Model: NIKON D80


Exposure Program: Aperture priority
ISO: 160
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Fire
Focal length: 10 mm
Lens: 10.0-20.0 mm Sigma
First photo: HDR rendering.
Second photo: Panorama of 6 HDR-s

Thank U all for visiting.

Maciek.

California fan palm

One California fan palm ( Washingtonia filifera ) tree is growing in our garden. 10 years ago when planted, it had about 1 meter of height. Now it has over 10 meters. The Fan Palm has a large, gray unbranched trunk with horizontal lines and vertical fissures.
It grows numerous evergreen leaves and leaf stalks with hooked spines along the edges.

Evergreen leaves.

Leaf stalks with hooked spines

Looking to the West

A view from Oporto´s small stone pier ( google map link ).
May 2009.

Aloe flowers

The Aloe in our garden started flowering. Over 450 species of Aloe have been described with diverse forms and sizes. The most common form of Aloe is the plant with red flowers. Our garden Aloe belongs to Aloe ciliaris or "climbing Aloe" family with yellow flowers.

Our garden, 30th of May 2009.
Maciek.