Some Snowfall In Tashkent

Tashkent doesn't have much of a winter. Some cold weather, maybe a few snowfalls that leave little dustings. The rare white blanket is a nice change from the dusty norm and a good chance to get out and see some sights.

Icon with snow, the famous Hotel Uzbekistan.

Hard to believe, right downtown, a meandering canal and footbridge creates a bucolic scene within the urban environment. The Monument of Courage with a little white dusting. It's dedicated to victims of the big earthquake in 1966.

The palace for Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich, one of the Romanovs. Nice pad, ready for a bitter, period Soviet epic film set.

Another memorial, the weeping mother for the WWII victims from Uzbekistan. Putting the frieze in freeze. The impressive workers scene outside the Mustakillik Maydoni metro station.

Cool pedestrian footbridge and big Ferris wheel. Lovely. For a day, until the melting commences.

Taking A Trip To The Tashkent Planetarium

Big city, big city attractions. Yes, Tashkent has a planetarium. It's about the size of Pluto.

Looking classic space age out front, complete with giant telescope, zodiac signs, stars, and a space capsule frieze.

The planetarium itself played some sort of intro to space video, complete with throwback space junk.

Not much else going on in terms of displays. One cool diorama, classic Soviet cosmonauts floating around to greet you. "Hi, orangemen!"

And those trusty space dog heroes, Belka and Strelka. They went up in Sputnik 5 and safely returned to earth, the first living beings to go and return from space. Don't ask about what happened to the first dog in space, Laika. Portrait of a cosmonaut, looking a little, er, spacey.

Going way back in planetary time to the Silk Road era in Uzbekistan, a diorama featuring the famous local astronomer wizard, Ulugbek. He's on the right, rocking the green robe.

Hockey At Humo Arena

Yes, Tashkent, Uzbekistan has a professional sports team. As of this year. It's a bit fluid in terms of league, level or even country for the local hockey team. Last year, an Uzbekistan hockey league. This year, the Tashkent team has joined the Kazakhstan league. Hello neighbor.

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for your Humos! (Is that right, Humos?) The Humo is a mythical bird of Persian origin, said never to touch the ground. Except to slap a puck into a goal. It's also featured on Uzbekistan's national emblem.

The Humo hockey team plays at Humo Arena. Confusing. Surprising, no Humo Hot Dogs. Things they do have in the arena are a bunch of old Soviet cars on display and a big board for you to leave little love notes to your favorite players.

The complex also has a practice rink, available for casual skating during the game. Cool.

There's a trophy room, complete with giant key. To unlock a championship. More fan friendly stuff, a quiz session during one of the intermissions.

That ain't no legendary bird. Somehow, the Humo mascot is a semi-creepy old man, drifting like a zombie through the stands. Old Soviet folklore run amok.

Day Of The Dead At Cacela Velha Cemetery

November 1, time to go see some loved ones. Day of the dead is a big deal in Catholic countries like Portugal. The cemeteries are busy, a lot of dusting, flower placing, checking in with relatives. The cemetery in Cacela Velha, a small village on the Atlantic coast in the Algarve area of Portugal, was a good example of the yearly ritual.

Ladders and some clean up, let's do this.

The Virgin Mary waits for her yearly dusting. The cemetery is old school, complete with retro push carts for coffins.

C'mon in, pick a shelf for the rest of your afterlife. Family mausoleums, bunked like camp.

More delicate relic, icon still life arrangements.

The flowers on each tomb are in abundance on November 1.

Come For the Blue Azulejo Tile At Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição In Loulé

It's hard to get sick of seeing the intricate, iconic Azulejo blue tile work in Portugal. Any old Catholic church may feature the tile design. Little Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição church in Loulé is almost overdosing on that style.

The humble exterior. A good eye cleanser before heading inside.

Tiny interior, big amount of Azulejo tile work, no wall untouched. Even a side door gets an elaborate frame and its own balcony.

The altar, gold fighting blue. A death match of design and color.

Some tile details. Sometimes the design is repeated abstractions, many times the work is broken up into various religious scenes.

Make sure the holy, beloved pooch makes it in!

The Castle Museum In Loulé

If your town has a giant, stone castle in the center of it on a hill, don't tear it down. Don't turn it into yuppie condos. Turn it into a museum. Loulé re-purposed its castle, creating a nice museum that highlights area archeological finds and a bit of more recent history.

The castle still looks good and dominates the small town skyline. Is there a skyline?

Sure there is, just climb one of the towers for a look. Inside the castle, a parade of rooms with cases filled with old pottery, artifacts.

Throwback local municipal government furniture, snazzy.

Old kitchen supplies, colorful pottery and a collection of enamel painted metal jugs.

Cute. A re-creation of a village house kitchen, complete with jumbo rag dolls.

All Around The Algarve

Sun-kissed beaches, old churches, forts, there's something for everyone along the south coast of Portugal in the area called the Algarve. Let's wander a little.

Laundry hanging near the old church in Alcoutim. Gotta keep those stuffed dolls clean.

Being along the Atlantic coast, the Algarve has a rich history in maritime, fishing. A large mural of fishing nets decorates the River Museum in Azinhal. Squaring off. The view from the castle fortress in Alcoutim, Portugal, across the Guadiana River, looking at a similar fort in Spain.

Where old anchors go to die. Cemitério das âncoras, of course.

Nice view from the old church in Cacela Velha. Ye Olde hippie, Goth. A figure at Igreja da Misericórdia in Tavira.

Why one heads to the Algarve. Good temps and lovely sunsets.

The Theatrics At Igreja de Santiago In Tavira

Catholic churches have the best decoration. Elaborate, soaring vaults, heavy gold gilding, an overflow of artwork. Head to Igreja de Santiago church in Tavira to take in some great religious iconography.

The main nave, aisle of the church. They saved the intricate work for the various side alcoves.

Jesus fronts a saint, all elaborately carved and painted wood. Sad altar boy. Hey, he got flowers.

Nun in a box, under lockdown.

Double height genre scenes. The Virgin Mary in her big grotto.

Jesus with a unique set of abs, wood carved women with added hair, a curious mashup of styles.