Alcala de Henares, Madrid, July 2010

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......Another half day trip from Madrid. even if it was very hot, I decided to do something on my last day here. So I took again the Cercanias from Atocha (5,20 euro round trip) and I went to Alcala de Henares (or Citadel on the River Henares). I chose this town for two reasons. It's also part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it's also Cervante's home town.
......I confess, I haven't chosen the best day to go there. It was Monday. Most of the sites were closed. I got there at noon and there was nobody on the street in the old center. I had to spend the next almost two hours in a McDonalds because it was too hot (what was I thinking of??).

......But even under this circumstances I managed to enjoy a 2 hour walk. I visited the Cathedral, a monastery, Cervantes Theatre and his home (on the outside). There were some guided tours at the University, but at 5pm. One of the most important streets in the city is the Calle del Cardenal Cisneros which takes tourists from the Madrid Gate at the entrance of the city, to the old city center and the Cathedral in Santos Niños Square. Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares, and baptized in the Church of Santa Maria in 1547, although his family moved from the city when he was still young. The city celebrates his birthday, 9 October, every year and organizes an annual Cervantes festival. The local university is acknowledged as a global leader in the study of Cervantes and his works.
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Cervantes Square

Oidor Church



Museo Miguel de Cervantes
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza outside Cervantes' birth-place
Calle Mayor. See? Absolutely nobody in the streets


Cathedral of the Santos Niños










Parque Municipal



Teatro Cervantes
Facade of the old Alcala University

Inside the University


Laredo Palace
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Lantau Island, Hong Kong_30.12.2009

.....And we got to Chapter 3 - Lantau Island, my dear readers.
.....This time we leave the city behind and visit the biggest island in Hong Kong.

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.....Lantau Island is located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District, but a small part in the northeast of the island belongs to Tsuen Wan District. It has an area of 146.38 km². Originally the site of sleepy fishing villages, the island has in recent years been transformed with the development of several major infrastructure projects, including Hong Kong's new international airport, Ngong Ping 360 and Hong Kong Disneyland.

......Cable Car going up to the hill, to the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. The ride takes about 20-25 minutes and from up there you can see the huge airport with planes landing and taking off every minute.

......New blocks of flats on Lantau Island. As tall as the ones in Hong Kong.

.....Hong Kong Airport

......Tian Tan Buddha also known as the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue of the Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major center of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular tourist attraction.

......The Buddha is 34 metres tall, weighs 250 tons and was the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha. Visitors have to climb 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha, but for those who think it's enough to see him from the Monastery, there are plenty of Tea Houses around.

.....I forgot to smile.

.....A welcome sign

..... Map of Ngong Ping Village. It's more like a street with souvenir shops and restaurants than a village. There's nobody living there.

.....Po Lin Monastery ("Precious Lotus Zen Temple") is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
.....The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu and was initially known as "The Big Hut". It was renamed to its present name in 1924. The main temple houses 3 bronze statues of the Buddha representing his past, present and future lives as well as many Buddhist scriptures.
.....This Monastery is also famous for making wooden bracelets, that are only sold near the Tian Tan Buddha statue.

.....The main temple

......Big Buddha seen from the temple

.....The three buddhas inside Po Lin Monastery

..... The steps leading to Big Buddha

.....View from the top

..... Statues near the Big Buddha

..... Big Buddha

......There is also a Disneyland on this Island. But for me it wasn't a priority. Those who went there said they're still building it and it will be ready (as big as the ones in Paris or LA) in about 5 years. Well, I might go then.

.....End of Chapter 3.

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.....Next chapter - Ocean Park, Hong Kong

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