Ancient Mycenae And Modern Nafplion

This time - visual debris from Peloponnese island, to be more precise, from Argolida. Mycenae according to legend built by Perseus and flourished in the period of Aegian civilization, currently represent ruins beautifully spreading in the mountainous location.

Nafplion, in its turn, is none other than the first capital of independent Greece in the 19th century. It's a very beautiful city and one of the main Greek ports. And in its mood it's very Italian!

Ruins Of Byzantine Towns In Modern Turkey

In the old days Harran was one of the greatest cities in the region, now it looks like a remote old and ruined village. But Harran is still attractive to tourists because of its ancient monuments and unusual architecture. Harran has many legends and stories about it. This town was the center for those who believed in the Moon God.

This fortress built by Byzantines and reconstructed by Turks is more likely to be the town center. Unfortunately there are no indications, only barbed wires.

Despite that practically all the population is very poor, children wear such nice clean uniforms.

Such houses were built 3,000 years ago, since that time nothing has changed: unburned clay, cone-shaped roofs and high domes.

The corridor of a room.

The interior roof decoration.

Here probably were whole quarters of such clay houses. But where is an entrance?

The Old Testament tells about Harran. The town history starts from 2ooo B.C. As other towns in that region it went from hand to hand. Harran belonged to Assyrians, Persians, Seljuks, Romans, Turks and to Mongols. And exactly during the times of the Mongolian domination a prosperous town turned to ruins. Then it never was restored.

The fortress has 3 floors with holes in some unexpected places.

Now move to another ancient and mysterious town Mardin located on the hill top. Old stone buildings decline from slopes and only sometimes town streets cross them. Practically all houses are restored and rented for state institutions. This is the first women school.

Mardin is the homeland for Assyrians. Now their number is not so big because of immigration.

The fortress is the main place in Mardin, all the rest buildings appeared near it. It is still a military object and closed for tourists.

20 km divide this place from Syria.

Narrow side streets contain many shops with everything you ever wanted.

The town is covered with white stoned mosques that add a festive appearance.

The donkeys transport is still popular.

Dwelling quarters.

Inside an Orthodox church.

Under the church there is an empty room with a hanging ceiling.

Unique Trams of Hong Kong

Trams of Hong Kong are unique. The tram system of this city is one of the three world systems where on a permanent basis doubledack trams are used. Besides it is the only system that uses only (!) doubledack trams. Opened in 1904 the tram line is one of the oldest types of Hong Kong transport. 

A tram trip is a nice way to get an impression about the diverse life of the Hong Kong north. Nearly 15 km - route stretches from Kennedy Town in the west district, through the dormitory area, trading and business areas to the old settlement of the fishers with a branch to Happy Valley.

All routes go through the center of the city. Trams have no numbers and each route is marked with a sign with a name of the final station. For example:
Shau Kei Wan - Western Market
Shau Kei Wan - Happy Valley
Happy Valley - Kennedy Town
Causeway Bay - Kennedy Town
Western Market - Kennedy Town

You won't have to wait for a tram more than 3 minutes.

Getting on a tram is via a rear door and a wicket. A ticket costs only 2 dollars of Hong Kong (about 0,35 USD).  They say 5 years ago, it cost ... 2 Hong Kong dollars ... Interesting, how much will it cost in 5 years?

The fact is that since 1904 all trams of Hing Kong were made of wood. Polished details made of teak were observed by passengers. Wooden trams are said to have been expensive in service. They were affected by weather and vermin and required repair each 4 years. 

So it was decided to change trams cardinally. Those who repaired trams admired sufficiently the new ones, but fans of antiquity wrung their hands - trams were losing their indubitable historic value, and the former attractiveness was leaving together with the outworn wooden details...

IAE but wooden trams are a part of history now, soon they all will be not more than the exhibits of museums, or maybe will be used only for excursions.

Quite an original crossing

And only trams are cool here, the color of the water is wonderful as well.

Ancient and Beautiful Montparnasse Cemetery

Paris has many cemeteries. One of the most famous is Montparnasse. Comparing with Père Lachaise it seems to be quite different. It's smaller, there are less green trees and tombs of famous people but, as well as Lachaise, it's definitely worth seeing.

In former days this district was considered intellectual that's why many writers, scientists and others were buried here. Now Montparnasse is one of the most prestigious cemeteries in the whole city.  

But who would call it a cemetery? Just a quiet park for walks in the city center.

Serge Gainsbourg - the symbol of France. It's tomb is cluttered with subway tickets, fans' paintings and cabbages (some people believe his head resembled a cabbage).

A worker of the cemetery.

A very strange place. On one hand, a bit scary but on the other ancient and beatiful.

A famous sculptor.

The bed of Charles Pigeon. A wealthy industrialist ordered to manufacture such a beautiful tomb even before his death.

André-Gustave Citroën's tomb.

A gloomy tomb of Simon Petlura.

A girl tenderly corrects flowers on the artist's easel.

A gallant soldier walking with a trumpet and singing songs.

The monument is a single piece of mineral.

A black raven, a usual guest of any cemetery.

19 plates with different names. If you really want to be buried at such a prestigious cemetery be prepared for having numerous neighbors.

Around the Waters of the Indian Ocean

To come to India and not to see the Indian Ocean - is absolutely wrong. In this post - photographs from the eastern coast of India, Puri city.

There is a huge recreational sand here stretching along the coast for many kilometers. The water is warm, the weather is good, but Hindus don't like to bathe for some reason. 

Unlike Europeans...

Street vendors offer various food: cucumbers, bananas, local vegetarian patties. 

Fishers with a catch always gather many people around.

Noone will leave without fish.

The village of fishermen is not far away from the main beach and looks miserable in fact. People live a very poor life. Houses are made of concrete with roofs of palm leaves. They are almost empty inside...

Boats are stretching up to the very horizon. All the coast is in garbage. Here, literally 2 meters from the ocean, is the public toilet.

Anyway it's a good place.

The Blue Town Of Morocco

Shefshauen is a little town located on the slopes of Reef Mountains in the north-west of Morocco. First of all the town is famous for its ancient part, where almost all houses are painted various tints of blue. Besides, nearly the half of all Moroccan grass is grown here.

The town was founded in 1471 and till 1920 it had been visited only by three strangers!

Today Shefshauen is a beloved place for tourists, but still it preserves its uniqueness.

Houses of Medina (ancient city) are painted blue in the lowest part.

April is a blossom time in Shefshauen, there are many flowers in the town.

As the town is in the mountains it's often cloud-capped.

Like in all Morocco, there are many cats here...

The houses are often restored and painted.

Local aqsaqals

One of the hotels: 5 USD per one.

Beautiful Houses of Lisbon

In order the evicted houses of Lisbon wouldn't be settled by squatters in Portugal all the windows are bricked. While the houses wait for reconstruction they are given to street artists who may do whatever they like. What turns out of that is rather beautiful! It's much better than to use the evicted houses for advertising banners.