Travel Photography: Portals – Homes of the Visionaries of Fatima

 

Home of Francisco and Jacinta

Aljustrel. A sleepy hamlet in the outskirts of Fatima. It is the birthplace of the three shepherd children who witnessed the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. In this village, one can visit the well-preserved homes of Lucia dos Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

There, you can also find Loca do Cabeço the spot where the Angel of Peace first appeared to the children before the apparition of the Blessed Mother. And in the backyard of Lucia’s house is the Poço do Arneiro (Arneiro’s Well) where the second apparition of the angel, also known as the Angel of Portugal, happened.

I was blessed to have visited Fatima twice and both times I was struck by the solitude and the humbleness of the environs of Aljustrel. Even now with pilgrims around, it remains laid back. How much more must it have been at the time of the apparitions.

Viewing the homes and learning about the lives of the shepherd children, I was struck by a thought: even the small and the lowly can be chosen by God to bring His message to the world. Young and socially insignificant though they were, the children had the courage to speak. And look how far God’s message has reached because of that! About 6 million pilgrims visit the shrine every year because God’s word came through the mouth of babes.

Though the homes were modest and the materials of the doors were rough, I still found them captivating enough to photograph and to paint. For this blog, I chose to feature the door leading to the outer courtyard of the Marto home framing my co-pilgrims caught in a light drizzle.

In Lucia’s house, it was a door facing the street that captured my attention. Plain, unassuming but full of character like the visionary that lived there.

Aljustrel. Fatima. Here the portals of heaven opened so God’s clarion call to mankind for prayer and repentance can pass through.

Travel Photography: Portals – Church of the Holy Sepulcher

 

Portals – doors, gates, archways – have become one of my favorite subjects for my travel photography. For some reason, they fascinate me. I’m intrigued by the mysteries that can be discovered beyond them. Sometimes they tease with a glimpse, a promise of something interesting inside. The allure of others lie in their design, material, uniqueness and the people near them that add a point of interest. Whatever it is, I am drawn to capture them with my lenses.

For this blog, I am featuring a photograph I took at the rooftop of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. I was fascinated by the image of a black-garbed man by a bright green door. He seems to be a monk of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the door is one of the entrances to the Deir el-Sultan Monastery.

An interesting fact that I learned during our visit to the Holy Land is that some religious sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem are under the Status Quo, an understanding among religious communities who share possession and responsibility for these holy places.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of those under the Status Quo. It is mainly run by the Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Armenian Apostolic Church with minor rights given to the Syriac, Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches.

I had mixed feelings as I walked into the church. Awe, because this was where my Savior was crucified and was buried. Surreal, because it was like a microcosm of the world where different denominations are united in the belief that here is where Jesus spent his last hours but still contentious about their tenets and territories. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is unique because of that. Within its walls are chapels and structures run by the different denominations.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church occupies the rooftop. It is there where we left the crosses we carried for the Via Dolorosa along the streets of Jerusalem. The Ninth Station is located near the entrance to their monastery. That was where I beheld this eye-catching scene of the Monk by the Green Door.

The image was so compelling that I was inspired to also capture it with my paintbrush. I painted a watercolor vignette to preserve the distinctive memory of churches within a church.

#AHaLoInEurope: Alpine Adventure Above the Clouds

 

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo in Mt. Pilatus

For a confirmed chocoholic like me, Switzerland will always be synonymous with that velvety, scrumptious, stress-busting treat from the confectionery gods.

Our dessert of Swiss Chocolate Brownie
served at the Queen Victoria

And Switzerland is also synonymous with stunning landscapes especially the Alps which I have been dreaming of capturing through my lenses.

Charming as they were, the Swiss cities we visited paled in comparison to the majestic vistas of their countryside. So, it was a dream come true for me to have an alpine adventure in Mt. Pilatus, a mountain massif, part of the Emmental Alps, overlooking Lucerne.

In Alpnachstad, we were greeted by the image of a playful dragon called PILU. The logo was a nod to the myths that have surrounded Pilatus since the Medieval times. Legend has it that dragons inhabited the mountain’s crevices in days of yore.

The ride up to Pilatus Kulm, the summit, was exhilarating. We climbed the sheer mountainside on a cogwheel train over the world’s steepest railway. The glass panels of the train provided an unimpeded view of the Alps.

Earlier, when we got off the bus, I was worried that the autumn weather will not allow us to enjoy the scenery. It was dark, gloomy and cold. But as we reached the top, above the clouds, the sun was radiant. I was even surprised to see some guys sunbathing with their shirts off while our tropical bodies were wrapped in thick jackets.

There are a number of things to do in Mount Pilatus other than sunbathing above the clouds:

       

1. Stay the night in historic Hotel Pilatus-Kulm which was built in 1890 and has hosted notable guests like Queen Victoria

 

1. Marvel at the alpine scenery from the viewpoint

 

1. Take the panoramic Dragon Ride Aerial Cableway

 Walk the Dragon Path to the caves.

 Dine like royalty beneath classic chandeliers

 

1. Buy pasalubong from the souvenir shop.

The ride down was more breathtaking. Thick, pearly white clouds created the illusion of a lake nestled between the peaks. It was the perfect image to cap my alpine adventure above the clouds.

#AHaLoInEurope: Charming Old Towns in Swiss Cities

 

Colorful bay windows in Augustinergasse, Zurich

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo in Bern and Zurich

 

Ancient history. Vestiges of times past. A time when ladies wore flowing gowns and knights were armor-clad. These visions of days gone by have always fascinated me.

 

So, is it any wonder that what I enjoyed the most in our tours around Swiss cities was their Altstadt (Old Town)? Meander with me, through my photos, down a maze of narrow cobblestone alleys, medieval buildings and picturesque squares.

 

Bern

 

Bern or Berne, the capital city of Switzerland, sprouted around the 12^th  century along a bend of the Aare. The Aare is the longest river whose whole length begins and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its waters flow through the Bernese Alps and loop around the Swiss capital.

Aare River

 

Our first stop was to say hello to the city’s mascot, heraldic animal and emblem, the brown bear. I was surprised to see one on the wires high above the trees.

 

The live ones in the Bärengraben (Bear Pit) looked cute and cuddly. But, of course, only from afar (I’d limit snuggling to stuffed teddy bears).

 

Bern’s Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved medieval core that has blended well with the modern world.

Notable buildings we viewed on our tour of the Old Town are the Berner Münster, a Swiss Reformed cathedral, the largest, tallest and most important late medieval church in the country

 

and the Zytglogge (Clock Tower), a landmark tower built in the early 13^th century.

 

Just before the clock strikes the hour, a crowing rooster heralds a whimsical puppet show with dancing bears and a jester. Then the time god Cronos turns the hourglass. Finally, the bell is struck by a gilded knight in time with Cronos’ swinging scepter. Absolutely captivating and worth the cricks in the neck we had to endure while waiting for the hour!

 

Zurich

 

Zurich, while being the country’s largest city, a financial and economic hub,

Bahnhofstrasse – main downtown street of Zurich
and one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues

 

also has a charming Altstadt with rustic shops,

 

an abundance of fountains with flowers,

 

quaint buildings,

 

serene public squares,

 

and imposing churches.

 

Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church)
has Europe’s largest clock face on a church tower

I will forever hold dreamy memories of Switzerland because of its Old Towns.

 

As always,  I close this article about Swiss Altstädte with a watercolor tribute – “Gerbera von Zürich” (Gerberas of Zurich) 

inspired by blossoms displayed on the city sidewalk.

#AHaLoInEurope: The Lemanic Arc Through My Lenses

A HaLo at the Marina in Port d’Ouchy, Lausanne

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo around Lake Geneva, Switzerland

 

Arc Lémanique (Lemanic Arc). The region on the north side of the crescent-shaped Lac Léman or Lake Geneva. Rich in history, old-world architecture and breathtaking alpine landscapes. Romantic spots nestled on the shores of the lake that inspired writers and artists to create timeless masterpieces.

 

Lausanne

 

For the world, Lausanne is the Olympic Capital; voted the best small city; an education, research and innovation hub.

For my camera lens and me, Lausanne is a serene lakeside haven where tiny sailboats with bare masts float in attention like harbor sentinels. It’s old city whose hilly contours challenge wearied knees

Fontaine de la Justice

is still cloaked with a medieval air.

Cathedral of Notre Dame of Lausanne
 - a 12th-century Gothic cathedral formerly a Roman Catholic church

Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)

 

Château de Chillon, a castle rich in feudal history on an island in the town of Veytaux.

 

Its dungeon was a photographic inspiration. The stark images of this vaulted cavern moved Lord Byron to pen his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”.

Column with Lord Byron’s signature

 

Let’s explore the castle through his poetic words:

 

“There are seven pillars of Gothic mould,

In Chillon’s dungeons deep and old”

“And in each pillar there is a ring,

And in each ring there is a chain;”

Poteau
(a post where the prisoner is attached
with an iron neck ring)

 

"Lake Leman lies by Chillon’s walls;

A thousand feet in depth below

Its massy waters meet and flow;"

 

"Thus much the fathom-line was sent

From Chillon’s snow-white battlement,”

"Below the surface of the lake

The dark vault lies wherein we lay"

 

"Because I could have smiled to see

The death that would have set me free"

 

“But I was curious to ascend

To my barr’d windows, and to bend

Once more  upon the mountains high,

The quiet of a loving eye.”

Secret Passage

 

Geneva

“Peace Capital”. A worldwide center for diplomacy with many international organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross calling Geneva home. A global hub for banking at the southern tip of Lake Geneva surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains where the Flower Clock ticks in perpetual bloom.

L’Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock)
– symbol of the city’s watchmakers and a dedication to nature

But again, what entranced my lenses the most was Geneva’s Vieille Ville (Old Town), a historic district with cobblestone streets, charming squares and historical buildings.

Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 

Place du Bourg-de-Four
– the oldest square in Geneva, a gathering spot with cafes and restaurants

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genéve
– the cathedral church of the Bishop of Geneva for a thousand years
until it became a Calvinist church

L’Ancien Arsenal (Old Arsenal)
– a onetime armory with centuries-old cannons and beautiful
mosaics depicting key moments from Geneva’s history

Giant chess boards in Parc des Bastions

 

It was my first time to set foot on Switzerland, and I was charmed by the old world ambiance of the Lemanic Arc. I was just sad to see former Catholic churches stripped of its art. Art that inspired one’s soul to sing praises to the Almighty. Art that told common people stories of God’s glory. Art that magnified our Lord’s creations.

And because I like to celebrate my travels with art, I just had to capture this window of a building in Place du Bourg-de-Four festooned with Halloween trimmings in watercolor.

 “Une Fenêtre à Genève”