More from Rome

St. Peters is facing east so the morning sun shines directly at the entrance.

K and I got there a little before 7 a.m. We had read on the net that the entrance to the top of the dome opened then, and we wanted to beat the crowds. There were no lines and we could walk straight through security when we got there. We were by the staff and signs informed that the dome would open at 8 a.m. which left K and me an hour to explore the interior of the church. It was nice and cool in the morning, and almost no people present. Such a great church!

A little before 8 we lined up for the dome and the lines quickly build behind us. Time went - people started complaining as the sun started to take - and it was almost an hour later that they finally opened the gate. (Italians!) We were then almost first in line - and could see thousands of people behind us.

The climb to the top was well worth it!


Columns at the entrance.


View from the top of St. Peters.


Climbing to the top of the dome...


... and descending.


K inside the dome of St. Peters.


Mosaic detail. Amazing how they have managed to make all these large pictures with small stones.


St Peters grave.


Me.


Swiss guard.


Panorama of the Trevi Fountain. (click to enlarge)

At the Spanish Steps

K at the Spanish Steps.




"Find Willy" at the Spanish Steps


Panorama from top of the Spanish steps. (Click to enlarge)

More photos from Rome

The Pantheon - build around AD 118. The Roman temple of "all the Gods".


Some people are taller than others.


The Colosseum opened in AD 80.


One of the entrances.


Inside the Colosseum. It is strange to stand here when you imagine all the suffering that has taken place in front of you.


K and I.S. at the metro station closest to our apartment.


Seldom have I in public heard as many Sigh an Moan sounds as on this street! It has all the brand shops you can imagine and the girls swarm in front of the display windows.


Roman street.

The Italians love TV – but they are not so concerned about the quality of their signals. Each man has his own antenna and antenna cable swinging in the wind.

Rome, Italy

I have rented an apartment in Rome, close to the Vatican, for a week. Have brought K, her friend, and Jennifer. We have been here since Thursday, so still a few days left.


The Colosseum.


Me on top of the Spanish Steps


The Spanish Steps.


Roman Forum.


Crowd at the Trevi Fountain.


Trevi Fountain.

Low cost airline

This is a great ad from Air New Zealand. We have the same low cost airlines operating in Norway, such as Ryanair and Norwegian, which adds a lot of extra fees upon the advertised original one.

www.saverjet.com

www.logmyblog.com

As of yesterday I got a new domain name.

Beware of the bird

My camera was out of function for some weeks after visiting Gran Canaria earlier this year.

We were visiting the Palmitos Park when a cockatoo elegantly picked off the outer ring of my camera lens.

Warning sign next to the bird cage. But what damage can small birds in a cage do?


Luckily the event was captured on video.


The sinner - photographed as the crime took place.


The damaged goods!

Work

Today I have been to Jersey and Aaland. Up around 5 am, and the fourth long day in a row. Luckily tomorrow is a short day - but I still hit close to 47 hours this week. (Not counting time at hotels away from home.) A long time to spend in a cockpit without getting to move my body.

Yesterday, when we were walking through the gate to our next flight, an old man approached me. He introdused himself as a retired SAS captain, politely asking if there was any chance of him sitting with us on the observer's seat in the cockpit.
Of course we granted him this request. During our 1hr 10min flight to Bodø he told us some of the stories from his life. He had been in Narvik during the German invasion in 1940, and later escaped towards Finland. After the war he started flying for SAS - in 1947!!! He retired in 1982. The amazing part was how fit he still was. Not many men like him left!

The trip to Bodø was great weather-wise as well. Not a cloud on our way. Approaching Bodø we did some sightseeing among glaciers, valleys, fjords and mountains! We also saw a couple of F16 playing in between the mountains. Truly an amazing flight - I wish I could share the impressions with you!!

Star Trek - like coming home!

I have just been to the premiere of Star Trek - the movie - and it felt like returning to the original series. And it felt good! Zachary Quinto IS Spock - with emotions! The return of Leonard Nimoy - so cool! All the characters are in place from the original series.
Not being a fan of the other series like "Next Generation", "Voyager", "Enterprise", etc - this makes me want more J.J. Abrams work!

Live long and prosper!

Vacation

I am currently at Gran Canaria. I have rented a large apartment for two weeks, and brought Jen, K, my parents, and my sister with me.

Today I have been bathing in the sea at the Amadore Beach. (Not warm)

Will post photos when I get back home.

P.S. Easter burglars at home: Be aware - my house is larmed! (Plus nothing much to steal there anyway)

Paris

Some photos from Paris last October:


Sacré-Cœur


People at the stairs of Sacré-Cœur, watching the sun set over Paris.

Panorama of Paris from Sacré-Cœur.


Eiffel Tower.

Streets of Montmartre.


Posters.





Wish I had a house on this street.


My room.


View from my room - Place de la République.

Alicante, Spain

Pics from one of the trips to Alicante last fall:


City panorama taken from Santa Bárbara castle. (click to enlarge)






The top of the castle. It would have been much nicer if they removed all of the communication equipment.




Looking down at the beach and the crew hotel. Lovely warm water - I went for a swim after returning from the castle.








Hard to get the angle right - but this is what it looks like when one looks over the edge.




This is a photo from an earlier trip. Taken by a cell in the dark. It is from the Virgen del Remedio (Our Lady of Remedy)feast in August. She is the patron saint of Alicante City. I remember it most because there were A LOT of beautiful young ladies in front of the procession.