Logs, laths, mud, whitewash

This is an example of early American pioneer construction methods. This is a photo looking up of the ceiling of a log cabin.  In the background, you can see the logs making up the roof structure. The ceiling is hung on some rough sawn rafters. Across the rafters are lathe strips. A mixture of mud and straw or grass is smeared across the laths or strips of wood. If it was available, the builder could have used plaster. After the mud dries, it is covered with a thin coat of whitewash, a solution of lime, water, and whiting. he whiting powder is a very fine white powder slightly abrasive composed mostly of calcium carbonate.

Privy or Outhouse

If we live in one of the developed areas of the world, we tend to forget the difficulties of living in an undeveloped area. When I was very young, there were still some of these structures in daily operation in the very small town where I lived. I do remember when our neighbors across the street got their first "indoor" plumbing. Lest we forget, I thought it a good idea to share this image.

Log Cabin - Split Log Construction

Log cabins are ubiquitous in the history of the United States. Accounts of log structures date back to antiquity. One early mention of log construction was from the Roman author Vitruvius who wrote a multi-volume work called De architectura. See Wikipedia: Vitruvius. Here is a short summary of the history from Wikipedia: Log cabin.

Construction with logs was described by Roman architect Vitruvius Pollio in his architectural treatise De Architectura. He noted that in Pontus (modern-day northeastern Turkey), dwellings were constructed by laying logs horizontally overtop of each other and filling in the gaps with "chips and mud". 

Historically log cabin construction has its roots in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Although their origin is uncertain, the first log structures were probably being built in Northern Europe by the Bronze Age (about 3500 BC). 

The image above shows a detail of a log cabin built in Utah Valley, Utah in the late 1800s. You can see that the method of construction had changed little from ancient times. This particular cabin was made by simply piling the logs up since there are no notches in the logs to secure them together. 

Wood Pile

Here in Utah, almost every grocery store carries a supply of wood for fuel. Wood fires are extremely popular despite numerous "no-burn" days in the fall and winter. Sometimes the wood is processed and bagged but in some cases, it is just stacked up to load in your car or truck. I liked the texture and color of the wood.

Trail through the Flowers

We took a short trail with flowers almost over our heads. The trail went on and on but we turned back because of the mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs. You can't see all those flying around in the photo, but when you are there in person, the attraction of the trail diminishes in direct proportion to the number of bugs.

Apricot Tree on the Hill

We live a few hundred yards from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail on the eastern edge of Utah Valley. The trail is high above all the houses in the Valley and runs for over 100 miles along the edge of what was once a giant lake, Lake Bonneville. We walk the trail in the warm months and snowshoe the trail when it is covered in snow. Part of the trail near our home was once a farm with fruit trees. This old apricot tree is standing all alone on the side of the mountain. You would have to zoom in on the photo to see the apricots but it is covered with hundreds. We have an especially heavy apricot crop this year, likely because of the heavy snow cover and rain.

Giant Sequoia in Spain

Some of the most surprising things we spotted in Spain were full-grown Giant Sequoia or
Sequoiadendron giganteum. These two were growing in La Granja de San Ildefonso in front of the Royal Summer Palace. There were others in the Botanical Garden in Segovia. Apparently, the weather and rain in Spain are perfect for Sequoia because these two trees were healthier than any we saw in California.

Aspen Grove in Summer

After living in the desert for years, we moved back to four seasons. The heavy snow and rain this year helped the forest explode into a mass of greenery. We also noticed an increase in the number of insects including mosquitoes and flies. The aspen trees were beautiful. Living in the desert has its advantages, but living in the mountains is equally advantageous, just different.

Last of the Snow on July 20th

We took a drive over the Alpine Loop road into the Wasatch Mountains. There is quite a bit of snow left even with temperatures in the valleys over 90 degrees. It was a lovely drive but there was a lot of traffic. In Utah, this is a holiday weekend, the 24th of July is pioneer day to celebrate the arrival of the pioneers (officially) in the Salt Lake Valley back in 1847.

Provo, Utah in the Summer

We went for a morning walk on the Shoreline Trail and had a good time eating ripe apricots from the old abandoned orchards. Technically, you could see our house in this photo but there are too many trees. A lovely view for a lovely hike along the Wasatch Front.

Designs from the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

The only thing I can say about the Alhambra in Granada, Spain is that it is absolutely amazing. Here is a summary of the place from Wikipedia: Alhambra.

The Alhambra (/ælˈhæmbrə/; Spanish: [aˈlambɾa]; Arabic: الْحَمْرَاء‎ [ʔælħæmˈɾˠɑːʔ], Al-Ḥamrāʾ, lit. "The Red One") is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications, and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada.[1] After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered in the Renaissance style. In 1526 Charles I & V commissioned a new Renaissance palace better befitting the Holy Roman Emperor in the revolutionary Mannerist style influenced by humanist philosophy in direct juxtaposition with the Nasrid Andalusian architecture, but it was ultimately never completed due to Morisco rebellions in Granada. 

Alhambra's last flowering of Islamic palaces was built for the last Muslim emirs in Spain during the decline of the Nasrid dynasty, who were increasingly subject to the Christian Kings of Castile. After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the buildings occupied by squatters, Alhambra was rediscovered following the defeat of Napoleon, who had conducted retaliatory destruction of the site. The rediscoverers were first British intellectuals and then other north European Romantic travelers. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well-known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the inspiration for many songs and stories.

Once again, it is amazing.

You Can See Forever

I guess it is time to shift gears for a while. I am back to the Utah Western Desert. If you look carefully at this image, you can see the faint line of a road but that is the only evidence of civilization you can see. This is part of the Basin and Range Province and stretches into Nevada. Most of central Nevada looks about the same. In this photo, we were able to get high enough on one of the mountains to see this view across the almost endless looking valleys. Most, if not all, of the snow, has probably melted by now although there is still snow visible on the Wasatch Front mountains outside my windows.

St John the Baptist Day in Segovia, Spain

In Segovia, Spain, the Saint John the Baptist Day is really an entire week of processions and celebrations. This holy day is celebrated in many parts of Spain. I have seen photos and videos of this type of procession in the past, but this was the first one I had seen live and up close. If it looks a little dark, it is about 8:00 in the evening. The main Cathedral of Segovia is in the background. We did not necessarily plan to be in Segovia during the week of the celebration, but it was extremely fortunate that we were. In the front and center of the procession is the processional altar. We saw several of these in churches in other parts of the country.

Stained Glass

Stained glass is impressive. One of the earliest known examples of stained glass in a church is in the St. Paul's Monastery in Jarrow, England. The oldest complete European windows are found in the Augsburg Cathedral in Bavaria that date to the late 11th and early 12th Centuries. These three windows are in the main Cathedral in Segovia, Spain.

Looking Up

When I was a fine arts major at the University of Utah, I had a very detailed class of art history. The class included looking at and recognizing major cathedrals in Europe. It was interesting during a trip to Spain, to see some of the elaborate cathedrals that were similar to the ones I studied so many years ago. This is the main cathedral in Segovia, Spain built in the mid-16th Century. It was built when the former cathedral was destroyed in a siege.

View of Segovia, Spain

Towns built on a series of hills often have places where you can get an expansive view. One theme of such a view in Spain is the common use of half-round tiles for roofs. Our home in Mesa, Arizona had just such a roof and the advantage was that absent a structural problem such as dry rot on a supporting beam, the roof was almost permanent. Americans have a tradition of wood or asphalt shingles both of which are flammable to some extent. Tile roofs are completely fireproof. Both shingles and tile are only as good as their underlayment, the real roof. From my experience, shingle roofs are common because they are relatively easy to install. Tile roofs take more time and skill but last indefinitely. I guess I would prefer tile roofs if I had a choice. Snow is also a factor. Tile is definitely warm climate. 

Palace Water Feature

Many Americans have a fascination with European royalty. This view of one of the water features at the Spanish Kings' Summer Palace in La Granja de San Ildefonso graphically illustrates the difference between the royalty and us common folk. This is just one of the parts of a vast garden that covers 1,500 acres. If you want to read more about the palace and gardens, here is a link to the Wikipedia article. 

Perspective

There are few places I have been where the vanishing point of the perspective is so perfectly illustrated. The perspective here also gives you some idea of the massive size of this aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. We walked from the starting point of this structure to this point where interestingly, it goes underground when it hits the hill on this side of the plaza. There is no access to the structure itself so that is not something you can do, but behind where this photo was taken is a steep staircase leading up to an observation area.

Walking in Segovia, Spain

The old walled cities in Spain are surrounded by modern subdivisions and shopping areas but the older cities, such as Segovia, are very conservatively maintained within the original city walls. Many of the streets are shared between cars, trucks, and walking people, but when the pedestrian traffic reaches a certain level, the streets are turned over almost completely to pedestrians. Segovia is a "tourist" city with its historic structures but it is surrounded, outside the wall, with modern shopping areas and other businesses. The inner city is mainly preserved for pedestrian traffic except for some major streets.

The Bridge over the Moat

One of the remarkable things about traveling to different countries is that some of your perspectives change. In this case, my ideas about moats underwent a complete revision. A moat such as this one was a formidable obstacle to any attempt at storming the castle. I keep remembering back through all the movies I have seen with castles to see if I can remember ever seeing a moat as large as this one. Most of the iconic movies castles are high on a hill reminiscent of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. I went through a whole gallery of photos of movie castles and did not see one with a similar moat to my image above. 

Nesting Structures

Unlike the deer around my house in Utah, in Spain, the storks are given first-class accommodations. Their nests on tall structures are not only tolerated, but they are also encouraged. This pair are White Storks, the most common kind. I understand that the same couple return year after year to the same location after migrating to Africa. The White Storks play an important part in the culture, religion, and folklore of Europe.

A Matter of Perspective

As I travel around the world, I am reminded that I am still Walking Arizona. I am still seeing all the patterns, colors, and textures in the world that make for such a rich experience. This particular pond shot was taken in Segovia, Spain but it could just as easily have been in a multitude of other locations around the world. What is the difference between traveling as a photographer and traveling as a tourist? I do take a reasonable number of photos of me and my family standing next to things, but then I also try to see what is really happening around me. I never tire of the world. There is always something strange, beautiful, lovely, or interesting to photograph.

Royal Garden in La Granja de San Ildefonso

This huge Royal Garden is associated with the Royal Palace in La Granja de Ildefonso, Spain. Here is a short explanation of the Garden from Wikipedia: Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.

Extending over 1,500 acres (6.1 km2), the gardens around the palace are one of the best examples of 18th-century European garden design in the Jardin à la française style in Spain. [7] The French designer from the official French royal offices of Robert de Cotte was René Carlier,[8] who used the natural slope of the site in the palace grounds design, for enhancing axial visual perspectives, and to provide sufficient head for water to shoot out/up from the twenty-six sculptural fountains in the formal gardens and landscape park. 

Sculptors arrived from Paris to execute designs on the site. They included: René Frémin (1672–1744, at La Granja until 1738), to whom the execution of many vases and sculptures was attributed in 18th-century inventories; Jean Thierry; and others who are little more than names in archival references.

This is one of the largest such gardens I have ever seen. I could have spent days and weeks visiting each part of the garden and seeing the huge variety of plants and trees. 

Coca Castle Moat

From books and movies, I had a standard concept of a castle that includes a moat. Here is a short description of moats from Wikipedia: Moat.

A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices. In older fortifications, such as hillforts, they are usually referred to simply as ditches, although the function is similar. In later periods, moats or water defences may be largely ornamental. They could also act as a sewer.

 I guess my idea of moats and castles changed dramatically the moment I realized I was looking at a real castle and a real moat. This is Coca Castle in Spain. The moat is about 60 to 70 feet deep and was probably filled with water at some time. I have revised almost all I have seen about castles from movies. What you might have seen is mostly fantasy.

The Royal Palace at La Granja de Ildefonso

I can only take so much gold and statues. Palaces are mostly all ostentatious. This is the summer palace of the kings of Spain one of seven or so palaces around the country. I am comfortable living in a tent so moving up to a palace would be more overhead than I could take. Interestingly, they won't let you take photos inside the palace but I do find a lot of interior photos online. I guess you have to apply to take photos and have an appointment or whatever. I did like the garden.

Storks in Spain

The White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, is ubiquitous in Spain. You need to look for their nests on tall structures such as this old smoke stack and on church spires. They are very graceful flyers and because of their large size, they are very noticeable. Their counterparts in the United States are the blue herons that seem to have spread over most of the country in the last 50 years.

The Beginning of the Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain

Technically, this is not the start of the famous Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain, but it is the start of the part that is most recognizable. The Aqueduct really started high up in the mountains many miles from the city. The water channel is the square dark spot on the blocks at the end. The entire structure was engineered to the right slope to carry the water all the way through the city. We walked the entire length of this preserved part of the Aqueduct.

It is prohibited to post bills

It is common in many countries to advertise events by posting (gluing or taping) bill (signs or posters). This is true in Spain. However, here is a posted notice saying that it is prohibited to post notices or bills or posters. In addition, there is another item posted on top of the notice. This says two things: the notice is being disregarded and apparently there are some exceptions to the no posting rule. These postings are so common, they are likely ignored for the most part unless they have some political or commercial value.

Detail from the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

It is hard to imagine the artistic effort that went into the construction of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Here is a short summary of the work:

The decoration consists for the upper part of the walls, as a rule, of Arabic inscriptions—mostly poems by Ibn Zamrak and others praising the palace—that are manipulated into geometrical patterns with vegetal background set onto an arabesque setting ("Ataurique"). Much of this ornament is carved stucco (plaster) rather than stone. Tile mosaics ("alicatado"), with complicated mathematical patterns ("tracería", most precisely "lacería"), are largely used as panelling for the lower part. Similar designs are displayed on wooden ceilings (Alfarje).[4] Muqarnas are the main elements for vaulting with stucco, and some of the most accomplished dome examples of this kind are in the Court of the Lions halls. The palace complex is designed in the Nasrid style, the last blooming of Islamic Art in the Iberian Peninsula, that had a great influence on the Maghreb to the present day, and on contemporary Mudejar Art, which is characteristic of western elements reinterpreted into Islamic forms and widely popular during the Reconquista in Spain.

See Wikipedia: Alhambra.

The Alhambra

There are some places in the world that defy description. The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is one of those places. No matter how many photos you see of the place or how many descriptions you read, you simply cannot imagine the tremendous amount of work and design that went into this huge structure and the surrounding gardens. Here is a short introduction from Wikipedia: Alhambra that will get you started.

The Alhambra (/ælˈhæmbrə/; Spanish: [aˈlambɾa]; Arabic: الْحَمْرَاء‎ [ʔælħæmˈɾˠɑːʔ], Al-Ḥamrāʾ, lit. "The Red One") is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications, and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada.[1] After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered in the Renaissance style. In 1526 Charles I & V commissioned a new Renaissance palace better befitting the Holy Roman Emperor in the revolutionary Mannerist style influenced by humanist philosophy in direct juxtaposition with the Nasrid Andalusian architecture, but it was ultimately never completed due to Morisco rebellions in Granada.