Lots of travel

This time we got photos from everywhere. In the beginning of June I had a job meeting in Helsinki. The photos are not from job.

After Helsinki I flew to Sicily, since I got a proposal I could not refuse :P in Palermo. As it can be seen from the first photos, I came late to the party: mafia has already done its job. :) Actually photos are from the catacombs of Capuccin monastery, where in XVI-XIX centuries were burried not only monks, but the whole families, children, doctors, lawyers, nobles and so on - about 8000 mummies in total. Palermo is rather beautiful city, even though most of its churches were destroyed during the bombing of the Second World War. European Union money given for restauration unfortunately finds its way not only to the rebuilding of the city, but also to the pockets of Mafia. Palermo has a beautiful cathedral, nice "new" opera house.

In the cave of the mount Pellegrino near the city is the sanctuary of St. Rosalia. Rosalia was a girl from noble family, who lived in the XII century and decided to leave her life of privilege to live and meditate in a cave of the mountain. There are beautiful views of Palermo, the sea and the "village" of Mondello from the mountain. I stayed in Mondello.

I've got love/hate relationship with Italy and italians. On one hand, Italy is a beautiful country and italians are great people. On the other hand, it's impossible to expect organization and business attitude from them. My hotel advertised a tour to Erice to be held on Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday they told me that there might be to few people for the tour to be held, so they did not want to sell a ticket to me. On Friday the agency did not answer the phone, even though it was business hours. On Saturday they told me that the tour is full, sorry. What can you say about that? :)

Since I did not rent a car - wise choice in Palermo streets, not so wise if you want to see more of the island - I had to sacrifice some money to get a taxi from Mondello to Segesta. Segesta is known for a wonderful unfinished greek temple and amphitheater.

Most of the photos show churches in Palermo.

After the trip to Sicily, we met with Diana in Lithuania. Photos show Vilnius and Kaunas.

After returning home from Europe, we went for a trip and a conference to Maine. We stayed for a couple days in Bar Harbor and drove around Acadia National Park in the Northeast of Maine. After that we returned to Portland. You may notice Raimondas' motor boats and castles in some of the pictures. :) The last photos are from cruise in Boston harbor.

Si karta nuotrauku susikaupe is visur. Birzelio pradzioje darbo reikalais sveciavausi Helsinkyje. Panasu, kad nuotraukose atsispindi ne darbas.

Po to nuskridau i Sicilija, greiciausiai tvarkyti mafijos reikalu Palermo. ;) Kaip matosi pirmose nuotraukose, ten jau iki manes gerokai pasitvarke… :( Nuotraukos is kapucinu vienuolyno katakombu, kur iki XVI-XIX a. buvo laidojami ne tik vienuoliai, bet ir visos seimos, vaikai, gydytojai, advokatai ir kilmingieji - apie 8000 mumiju. Palermo grazus miestas, nepaisant to, kad didziaja dali baznyciu nugriove antro pasaulinio karo bombos. O ir restauracijai skirti Europos Sajungos pinigai dazniausiai nuseda mafijoziu kisenese, bet kai kas sugebeta restauruoti. Grazi katedra, gana "naujas" operos teatras. Prie miesto esanciame Pelegrino kalne (Monte Pellegrino) yra sventosios Rosalijos sventykla. Rosalija buvo XII a. gyvenusi kilminga mergina, nusprendusi, kad nenori isteketi ir pabegusi gyventi ir medituoti i kalno ola. Nuo kalno matosi juros ilanka ir "kaimelis" Mondello, kur prie pat juros kranto buvau apsistojes viesbutyje.

Dazniausiai Italai ir Italija man labai patinka, bet kartais sukelia ir pasibaisejima. Is vienos puses, Italija puiki ir italai fantastiski zmones. Is kitos puses, tiketis organizuotumo ar bent jau dalykinio poziurio is ju neimanoma. Bandziau patekti i organizuojama ekskursija i Erice. Treciadieni man pasake, kad galbut nesusirinks pakankamai zmoniu, todel manes i sarasa neirasys. Penktadieni agenturoje niekas neatsiliepe, nors buvo darbo metas. Sestadienio ryte pasirode, kad visos vietos ekskursijoje uzimtos. Na ir ka besakyti. :)

Kadangi neturejau isnuomotos masinos - o tai ir nerekomenduotina Sicilijos miestu gatvese - teko paaukoti siek tiek santaupu ir paimti taksi is Mondello i Segesta (~72 km.). Segestoje stovi ispudinga neuzbaigta graiku sventykla bei amfiteatras.

Daugumoje nuotrauku - Palermo baznyciu isore ir vidus.

Po Sicilijos, su Diana susitikome Lietuvoje. Nuotraukose Vilnius ir Kaunas.

Neilgai pabuve namuose po keliones i Europa, nuvaziavome i Meina. Apsilankeme Bar Harbor'e ir Acadia Nacionaliniame Parke, Meino siaures rytuose, bei Portlande. Keliose nuotraukose Raimondo motorlaiviai ir pilaites. ;) Paskutines nuotraukos is kruizo po Bostono uosta.