Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
I really like the view out the back window!
Vic's Pics (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Vic Balshaw
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #162
Vic Balshaw
Major General
Thanks Migrant, Hugh and Aaron, your interest and comments are as always, much appreciated.
The lens used for all of these shots was my Canon EFS 55x250mm Image Stabilizer zoom. The flowers were taken from the minimum distance and then using the Digital Photo Professional I cut and paste the selected image for posting.
I'll be back with the travel pics again in a couple of days.
The lens used for all of these shots was my Canon EFS 55x250mm Image Stabilizer zoom. The flowers were taken from the minimum distance and then using the Digital Photo Professional I cut and paste the selected image for posting.
I'll be back with the travel pics again in a couple of days.
evangilder
"Shooter"
Nice stuff, Vic. It's almost like we are traveling with you.
- Thread starter
- #164
Vic Balshaw
Major General
A couple of King Parrots came to feast in the tree outside my hobby room today. Strangely enough the tree that is so attractive to all the parrots is not a native to Australia. It's a Sycamore which is quite at home in Europe.
NICE....Vic !
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Most excellent my good man!
Nice shots!
B-17engineer
Colonel
Very coooool!
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Well done.
- Thread starter
- #170
Vic Balshaw
Major General
Thanks again for the complements guys, hope this next lots just as interesting to you, it's a big batch this time. We are now on our way to Syria, but on the way we make a morning stop at Jerash which is home to the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa. From what we were told, this is one of the largest Greco-Roman that remains comparatively complete.
Pic 1. This was taken on the road going north and shows the contrast of earlier pictures of the arid terrain of Jordan.
Pic 2 3. The southern gate land avenue eading into the city.
Pic 4. The central of the city which is an almost perfect circle surrounded by columns which formed a central meeting place to the city.
Pic 5 6. Yet another amphitheatre and the central steps leading up from the theatre floor. No Roman city was complete without an amphitheatre and this one boasted two.
Pic 7 8. A little bit of nature, it was spring and the wild flowers were magnificent. The cat also seemed to be enjoying the warm sun, though me thinks he was not a tabby, he looked to healthy.
Pic 9 10. A couple of better view of the city centre. The area of ruins was quite vast and it took us about three hours to walk it and this was by no means all of it, for a good half of the original city has over the millennium, been encroached by the modern city.
Pic 11. These columns are part of a temple to Zeus and amazingly the columns are stood in a way that they can sway without falling. There was a young coffee vendor in the temple and he took great pride in placing a teaspoon under the base of one of the columns and then giving it a shove. We watched as the spoon gently moved up and down. This demo was accompanied by a cup of strong black cardamom coffee.
Pic 12. I couldn't resist this picture, poppies in the wild are magnificent.
Pic 13 14. The second, smaller amphitheatre in the northern part of the city. It's actually built on a small hillside that dips away from you as you enter the theatre. We were taken into a doorway and this picture shows the drop down the steps. It may have been a small theatre, but the sudden drop was quite scary.
Pics 15 to 17. These are of the main south west street in the city. The columns represent what is remaining of the traders shops along the street and underneath the paving was a full drainage system for rain runoff.
Pic 1. This was taken on the road going north and shows the contrast of earlier pictures of the arid terrain of Jordan.
Pic 2 3. The southern gate land avenue eading into the city.
Pic 4. The central of the city which is an almost perfect circle surrounded by columns which formed a central meeting place to the city.
Pic 5 6. Yet another amphitheatre and the central steps leading up from the theatre floor. No Roman city was complete without an amphitheatre and this one boasted two.
Pic 7 8. A little bit of nature, it was spring and the wild flowers were magnificent. The cat also seemed to be enjoying the warm sun, though me thinks he was not a tabby, he looked to healthy.
Pic 9 10. A couple of better view of the city centre. The area of ruins was quite vast and it took us about three hours to walk it and this was by no means all of it, for a good half of the original city has over the millennium, been encroached by the modern city.
Pic 11. These columns are part of a temple to Zeus and amazingly the columns are stood in a way that they can sway without falling. There was a young coffee vendor in the temple and he took great pride in placing a teaspoon under the base of one of the columns and then giving it a shove. We watched as the spoon gently moved up and down. This demo was accompanied by a cup of strong black cardamom coffee.
Pic 12. I couldn't resist this picture, poppies in the wild are magnificent.
Pic 13 14. The second, smaller amphitheatre in the northern part of the city. It's actually built on a small hillside that dips away from you as you enter the theatre. We were taken into a doorway and this picture shows the drop down the steps. It may have been a small theatre, but the sudden drop was quite scary.
Pics 15 to 17. These are of the main south west street in the city. The columns represent what is remaining of the traders shops along the street and underneath the paving was a full drainage system for rain runoff.
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Outstanding Vic!
Nice shots Vic!
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
WOW!!!!
I can't pick a favorite, I like them all. Fantastic Vic!!
I can't pick a favorite, I like them all. Fantastic Vic!!
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Fantastic! Man, what I'd give to just see half of those places!
Thanks for posting the photos!
Thanks for posting the photos!
- Thread starter
- #175
Vic Balshaw
Major General
Here we are again folks on the final country of our Middle East tour. We rode over the Jordan/Syria border and spent the night in Damascus before a very early morning start heading north into the wilds of Syria.
Pic 1. First stop was the town of Maaloula where the Aramaic language from the time of Jesus is still spoken. it was Sunday morning and when we went into the church, a service was in full swing so in respect of the congregation, no photos were taken save this view from the mountain top.
Pic 2 3. We the drove to the citadel of Krak des Chevaliers which is a fortress from the Crusades and was also owned at one time by the Knights Templar. The fortress is very high up in the mountains with a commanding view for miles around.
Pic 4, 5 6. Inside the fortress is a labyrinth of passages, seemingly all rising upwards with very large chambers or communal living quarters.
Pic 7. I couldn't resist trying my hand a couple of study shots.
Pic 8. Believe it or not, this fortress though on a mountain top with steep drops on three sides, has a moat all round it that was within the main outer wall.
Pic 9. This is the stable within the depths of the fortress we were told house upward of 3 to 4 thousand horses. As many as 2,000 Knights with their squires and possibly family lived in the fortress at any one time, any staff such as cooks, maids, stable hands lived down in the valley and climbing up to the fortress daily through secret passages.
Pic 10. Sorry about this, but I kind of like the 'through the arch photo.'
Pic 11 12. The view from the upper ramparts.
Pic 1. First stop was the town of Maaloula where the Aramaic language from the time of Jesus is still spoken. it was Sunday morning and when we went into the church, a service was in full swing so in respect of the congregation, no photos were taken save this view from the mountain top.
Pic 2 3. We the drove to the citadel of Krak des Chevaliers which is a fortress from the Crusades and was also owned at one time by the Knights Templar. The fortress is very high up in the mountains with a commanding view for miles around.
Pic 4, 5 6. Inside the fortress is a labyrinth of passages, seemingly all rising upwards with very large chambers or communal living quarters.
Pic 7. I couldn't resist trying my hand a couple of study shots.
Pic 8. Believe it or not, this fortress though on a mountain top with steep drops on three sides, has a moat all round it that was within the main outer wall.
Pic 9. This is the stable within the depths of the fortress we were told house upward of 3 to 4 thousand horses. As many as 2,000 Knights with their squires and possibly family lived in the fortress at any one time, any staff such as cooks, maids, stable hands lived down in the valley and climbing up to the fortress daily through secret passages.
Pic 10. Sorry about this, but I kind of like the 'through the arch photo.'
Pic 11 12. The view from the upper ramparts.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
I think that the Hospitallers owned the castle as well as or together with the Knightstemplar. Did you read the grafitti on the wall that one knight wrote?
One of my favourite crusader castles, Krak des Chevaliers! 8) Would be some summer residens!
Amazing pics Vic!
One of my favourite crusader castles, Krak des Chevaliers! 8) Would be some summer residens!
Amazing pics Vic!
- Thread starter
- #177
Vic Balshaw
Major General
That is correct Jan, it was given to the Hospitallers by the Count of Tripoli, Raymond II and continued to be used by the Crusaders. A truly magnificent place and I believe one of the largest and best preserved examples anywhere. I take it you have visited Syria at some time.
evangilder
"Shooter"
Great stuff, Vic! It's like getting to travel without the airline food. You have taken some interesting stuff and done some nice compositions. 
You have taken some interesting stuff and done some nice compositions.
Nice shots Vic!
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
I agree with Eric. It's like traveling without ever leaving the house. Excellent photos sir. 
Thank you for your time and effort.
Thank you for your time and effort.
