Living in the United States, I never imagined living in Africa, yet here I am at the tail end of year three. When I’d imagined a life abroad, like most Americans, I suppose, I imagined European destinations. There was always something in the back of my mind, a sense of the unknown, that made the…
Greek soldiers marching.
Update: It turns out that what I observed was the Greek changing of the guard as happens at other governmental buildings. Soldiers, dressed in classic uniforms change station and some are positioned at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As I was wandering around Athens yesterday, I noticed a strong military presence down one of the streets. There were riot control buses and many heavily armed personnel. Curious, I wandered down the street to see what was up. One of the major thoroughfares was entirely cordoned off. Considering the recent economic crises in Greece, I wondered if it was a protest of some sort, but it ended up to be a Greek military procession of cadets, I think, marching from their barracks to the Greek Parliament building.
Though an ardent pacifist, I couldn’t help but be moved by the scene and the pride of these young men. Plus, the outfits are amazing!
In Flanders Fields During the First World War, Belgium suffered greatly, as much of its countryside became an entrenched battlefield. Hundreds of thousands of men lost their lives in what became a hopeless deadlock that dragged on and on. Each side became mired in their own muddy trenches and men slowly went mad. Tales of…
A quick video of the Hungarian Changing of the Guard ceremony – my new fascination of sorts – at the Presidential Palace in Budapest, Hungary. This one is different than most, in that it also includes drums.
After the amazing chance encounter with the Greek soldiers demonstrating changing of the guard, I was excited to see if we could watch the Bulgarian changing of the guard.
At the beginning of the video, the soldiers are coming out to change the guard. Their long stomping strides reminded me of toy soldiers with a hint of ballet technique.
After changing the guard, the troop returns to the barracks from whence they came. It was neat to see. I now want to see each of the different style as we progress and I regret not investigating if Turkey had one.
Below is an edited version of the video I shot. Some parts are shaky because I realized I was in their path and had to move out of the way. Enjoy!
West of downtown Lisbon, along the shores of the famed Tagus River, in an area of town called Belém, lies even more wonderment. Three sites in particular bear witnessing, all three of which are mentioned briefly in this video by UNESCO. Jerónimos Monastery Followers of of Saint Jerome, known as Hieronymites, himself an ardent follower of…
Sometimes, after roughing it in the desert, a guy just needs to get away and be spoiled. What better way to do that than cheaply, during off-season at a almost empty, but swanky hotel? Especially, when the weather has been unseasonably warm and lovely. When I checked in to the Mercure Hotel in Al Hoceima. I…
We recently traveled to the end of the world, or at least that’s what it might have felt like 500 years ago, and truth be told it felt a bit like that. Our recent travels in Portugal took us to Sagres, the most southeastern point in Europe and, strangely enough, the title of a song…
