The Island of Ireland

Ireland (/ˈaɪərlənd/ listen); Irish: Éire [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen); Ulster-Scots: Airlann [ˈɑːrlən]) is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel. Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth.^[6]

Photography – Greville Ed

Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland , which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. In 2024, the population of the Republic of Ireland is 5.4 million, ranking it with Northern Ireland as the second-most populous island in Europe after Great Britain. Just under 5.4 million live in the Republic of Ireland and just under 2.8 million live in Northern Ireland.^[5]

Barcelona (/ˌbɑːrsəˈloʊnə/ BAR-sə-LOH-nə, Catalan: [bəɾsəˈlonə], Spanish: [baɾθeˈlona]) is a city in Spain. It is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. The current metro area population of Barcelona in 2024 is 5,712,000, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona, making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as an economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia. Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments.

Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities.^[8][9] It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, 24th in the world (before Zürich, after Frankfurt)^[10] and a financial centre. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion.^[11] In 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion; and it was leading Spain in employment rate in that moment.^[12]

In 2009 the city was ranked Europe’s third and one of the world’s most successful as a city brand.^[13] In the same year the city was ranked Europe’s fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year,^[14] and the city has been experiencing strong and renewed growth for the past three years. Since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe.^[15] Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe’s principal seaports and busiest European passenger port,^[16] an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 40 million passengers per year,^[17] an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.^[18]

FInfo from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photography: Greville Edwards

Sant Pol Seascapes

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The Mediterranean at play – these images were captured over 2 days (21-22) in January 2017 – they show the subdued strength and nature of the Mediterranean sea, the strange wave currents and tidal behaviour. The moving light and constantly changing contrasts, colours and reflections, and of course the noise of it all.

Photography – Greville Ed

Sant Pol Winter 2020

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For those who miss Sant Pol  – Some images of the sky and seascapes of Sant Pol and environs especially for those regular visitors from Barcelona, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France and even the UK, and beyond, who are unable to visit during the restricted travel and controls to prevent further spread of the dreaded covid.

Stay well and strong because it will pass and we will be free to enjoy and respect this place again soon.

Christmas in Sant Pol and Beyond – Link to Google Album

Photography – Greville Ed

 

An Ethiopian Journey

 

We are 9 days into our trip to Ethiopia, situated high up on a hill in Gonder. It’s a cool 10ºC with mist and cloud at an altitude of about 3500 ft. After the initial culture shock and exposure to extreme poverty in some parts of Addis we are by now acclimatized and able to see the beauty, strength, and innocence of both the people and their land. But, before harping on about culture and the environment of Ethiopia, we have just returned to the hotel having visited 2 churches, one of which acts as a monastery for boys and girls studying to be priests, this church is a collection of old ruins and relics from Ethiopia’s history, with few functioning covered spaces for prayer and teaching, many of these young people must beg to survive and live in tiny wood and straw circular huts about 2 meters across, 8 to a hut, they have nothing other than the clothes they have managed to beg from others and are malnourished in most cases. They still hold their beliefs and have a true smile on their faces and in their hearts. This is only one situation amongst so many in this country of 81 million where the average yearly wage is equivalent to 250 dollars, (the UK average is about 50 thousand) for instance. There is a need for us to give appropriate help, education, infrastructure, sustainable housing solutions, etc. Having never witnessed such deprivation before, I for one cannot ignore this eye-opener on truly wonderful people, many of whom are still innocent of the unnatural desires of modern times in our ‘developed’ countries.

7 Adults and 2 Kids take a road trip north from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar and Lake Tana, then up to Gonder.
Down again to 1800meters to join the Theodores II road to Lalibella.
A few days later heading for Addis again with a stop overnight at Debre Berhan.

Addis Ababa
The Mercato, Piazza Area, Finfine Restaurant
Family Lunch, Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
Ethiopian National Museum
Preparations

Debre Markos
Travel from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos
Travel from Debre Markos to Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar & Lake Tana
Visit Monasteries on Lake Tana
 Visit Bahir Dar Market

Gondor
Travel from Bahir Dar to Gondar – King Fasiliidas Compound and Baths
Day 9 – Trekking in Simian Mountains, Debre Berhan Selassie Church, The Kusquam Church
Gondar to Lalibela

Lalibela
The Monolithic Churches
The Yemrehanna Kristos Church,
Artisans, Archaeological sites and Local Shops

Travel from Lalibela to Kombolcha
Travel from Kombolcha to Addis Ababa for the final six days
Flight to Istanbul for a few more days, and on to Dublin