Tag: medieval

• A walk through Shkoder to Rozafa Castle

  Well where shall I start. I rather like it here. Shkoder is definitely a city of contrasts. This morning I woke to the sound of a cockerel from some garden nearby and then breakfasted in the garden on fried eggs, a type of spicy sausage, coffee, fruit juice, delicious bread and jam … all for…

  thegaywidower

  April 9, 2024

  The consequences of travel

  Albania, architecture, discovery, gay, medieval, Rozafa Castle, serendipity, shkoder, solo, street life, the extraordinary, travel

• First impressions of Oslo

  Well the hostel is fine if large like all these northern hostels. I miss the smaller type of hostel I found in Italy. The city is modern and I was told it was boring but so far I’ve walked the city centre, past the Cathedral and ended up by the fjord and the Akerhus fortress…

  thegaywidower

  August 29, 2023

  The consequences of travel

  Akershus, architecture, art, culture, discovery, gay, hostels, medieval, Munch, Norway, Oslo, solo, travel

• Heading for Oslo … a last morning in Stockholm

  Riddarhuset … House of Nobles As this is my last morning I was pleased to get into the Riddarhuset. Built in the 1660s it’s a beautiful building in baroque style and housed the nobility and acted as a proto-Parliament until the 19th century. The main assembly chamber walls are lined with the shields of the…

  thegaywidower

  August 28, 2023

  The consequences of travel

  architect, baroque, churches, discovery, gay, medieval, Riddarholmen, Riddarhuset, solo, Stockholm, Sweden, travel

• Another day, another trip … Turku

  Today was drizzling in Helsinki but I caught the train to Turku where the sun was shining and it was beautifully warm. Shirt sleeve weather. This is the ancient capital of Finland and major city when it was ruled by Sweden. It is the oldest city in Finland but little if the ancient city survived…

  thegaywidower

  August 23, 2023

  The consequences of travel

  architecture, discovery, Finland, gay, medieval, solo, travel, Turku

• Il Torre Asinelli

  I did it … 97.2m and 498 steps … I as terrified but it was exhilarating… and fantastic views of the city … when I dared get close enough to the edge. There used to be over 100 towers in Bologna but only 24 remain. Asinelli is the tallest. The neighbouring tower, Garisanda leans at…

  thegaywidower

  April 17, 2023

  The consequences of travel

  anxiety, architecture, Bologna, courage, discovery, gay, Italy, medieval, solo, the extraordinary, Torre Asinelli, towers, travel

• … to Aquileia… a hidden jewel

  I wasn’t sure what I would find here. A train journey and then waiting for a bus it seemed quite a journey as it’s about 40 miles from Trieste. However I’d heard about it and it is yet another UNESCO world heritage site so I thought it would be worth a look. I walked a…

  thegaywidower

  April 8, 2023

  The consequences of travel

  Aquileia, architecture, Byzantine art, discovery, frescos, gay, Italy, making connections, medieval, medieval art, mosaics, Roman architecture, serendipity, solo, the extraordinary, travel