Lighthouses can be quite unique and beautiful throughout the world. Obviously, they serve and important function, keeping ships from coming perilously close to shore, but they are fascinating in their own way. We have seen lighthouses in Iceland, Morocco, and Chicago and the surroundings of each couldn’t have been more different. Last week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is two-syllable words that start with the letter L, so we are sharing some of the interesting lighthouses that we have seen.
We had heard that we could get wonderful views of Quito by climbing to the top of the towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional, so we made sure to put that on our itinerary. The architecture of the church is truly fascinating and some of the most interesting items are the grotesques, which aren’t gargoyles, but instead are native animals of Ecuador. Seeing the iguanas, turtles, caimans, and other creatures jutting from the stone walls was definitely interesting and unique. In other ways, it is a typical basilica similar to any that you find in Europe and around the world.
In addition to the architecture, the stained glass windows are truly stunning. On your way to the tower, you get great views of the main cathedral as well as a closer view of the windows. In order to reach the tower, you must cross a rickety wooden platform and then climb a ladder. You aren’t done climbing at this point and our fear of heights kept us from getting all of the way to the top, but we did get the amazing views that were promised.
This week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge is Peek and we are hoping that you get a good peek at the details of the Basilica.
Situated along the Rhine River where it connects with the Moselle, Koblenz is a wonderful city to visit, especially in the fall. One of our favorite memories from our time in Germany last year was taking the train along the Rhine and seeing all of the beautiful foliage. There are many different sites to visit in Koblenz, such as the fortress, the Basilica of St. Castor, Stolzenfels Castle, and the German Corner with its monument of William I on horseback. Regardless of sightseeing in Koblenz, we enjoyed simply walking along the river and enjoying the beautiful scenery. This week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is anything with the letter K. We hope that you enjoy a few images of our time in Koblenz as much as we enjoyed visiting it last October.
