Paris, Brighton and Lewes

Eiffel Tower - there was low cloud the day that we were wandering around. 

 Eiffel Tower

 Grand Palais - ice skating rink inside

 LaFayette - large (and pretty) shopping centre

Little alley that we stumbled across that had pretty shops and lights lit up for Christmas

 Old cemetery in Lewes, SE England

(this is a few hundred metres down from where I used to live in Lewes in 2006 and 2007. We had amazing weather when I visited Lewes for the day. It was beautiful and sunny, and I felt kind nastalgic during my visit)

 Harvey's Brewery in Lewes (on the the River Ouse)

 Lewes High Street

 View of the River Ouse

 River Ouse / Lewes

 View of Lewes from the golf club

 Lewes

Lewes Castle entrance

 National Gallery, water fountain at Trafalgar Square, London

Big Ben, London

 Notre Dame island (if that is what it is called!), Paris

 The Louvre, Paris

 Arc du triomphe du Carrousel, Paris

 Palais Garnier - old opera and ballet house

 Inside Palais Garnier

  Inside Palais Garnier

  Inside Palais Garnier - Grand Staircase

This is the most beautiful building and staircase - I have not done it justice!

 The eye, Paris

 Arc de Triomphe

 Eiffel tower - sunset shot

Eiffel tower - night shot (the tower lights up and sparkles on the hour every hour)

Skoki Lodge, Lake Louise

 Porcupine!

At the start of the trail up to Skoki lodge we saw a porcupine on the trail. It is the first porcupine that I have seen! It was a lot bigger than I thought and I didn't realise that they can climb trees.

 Creek on the way up

The weather was overcast and about 13 degrees for the hike up to Skoki, which made it a little easier to hike up with a backpack on.

Hidden Lake

This lake is about 2km off from the main trail. 

Ptarmigan Lake

In January, this lake was frozen over and we snowshoed across it. This time we walked / hiked up around to the left of the photograph. 

Hoary Marmot

We heard this little guy before we saw it. It whistles or calls at a high pitch and at first we thought that it was someone blowing a whistle. It sat on the rock for a long time and wasn't that fussed about us edging closer to get a photo.

Ptarmigan Lake

 The lodge

The trail up to the lodge is about 13 km from the Lake Louise ski area. It is open in winter and in summer, and closes for the shoulder seasons between. They provide bedding, food and drinking water for the guests. There is no running water or electricity (and no mobile phone reception) so it feels like a good (but short) getaway!

 The lodge

 Our cabin

Last time we came, we stayed in the main lodge (dorm rooms), but this time we got a cabin between 4 of us to share. 

View from Merlin Pass 

Once up at the lodge, we had access to more hikes and beautiful scenery.

 Merlin Lake

Despite it being late June, there was still snow around in places and ice in parts of the lakes. After the first day, we had gorgeous sunny weather with temperatures in the low 20s.

Lake Agnes Hike, June 2014

 Lake Agnes

View down to Lake Louise and the chateau 

Cuba 2014

 Plaza de Revolucion (Plaza of Revolution) - which has a large Che Guevera tribute.

 Cuba is full of old cars from the 1950s. The green car here with the door open, is the car that took me from my hotel into Havana. 

 Square in old town Havana

 This is in the old town of Havana. Lots of the buildings are old and falling apart, but they are (bit by bit) renovating the old buildings in Havana. It is a beautiful old town and I wish that I had more time there.

 Hotel Ambos Mundos, Cuba - this is the hotel where Hemingway rented a room in the 1930s and (I think) did a lot of writing.

 Beach at the door step of my hotel in a place called, Jibacoa. The hotel that I stayed at was half way between Havana and a popular resort area called Veradero. I was about 1 hour from each area (by car), so relaxation and quite is what I got!

This is another shot from Jibacoa beach where I stayed.