L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Newfoundland

On site sculpture designed by New Brunswick graphic artist and illustrator Karen Van Niekerk

Wikipedia:  Location of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland

At the very northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada we find the amazing...

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

 

 As well as a good walk around the Viking settlement, there is also the excellent Birchy Nuddick loop trail from the settlement, along the shore and then inland:

 

 

Start your walk at the Viking settlement:

 

   

After walking around the settlement you can head out on the Birchy Nuddick loop trail:

 

 

Now watch the Parks Canada video about the settlement:

 

Completing The Circle:

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

(Parks Canada)

   

The National Film Board of Canada provides an excellent video on the Vinland Mystery:

 

More information available at UNESCO because L'Anse aux Meadows is a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Book recommendation:  the exciting account of the discovery of the site as well as lots of background information on the Vikings: 

 

The Viking Discovery of America by Helge Ingstad and Anne Stine Ingstad

A model of the site in the museum:  

 

James Callaghan Trail: Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The rugged west coast of Newfoundland features one of Canada's most spectacular National Parks:  

 Gros Morne National Park 

(Map: Chris Brackley/Canadian Geographic)

West of Rocky Harbour stands Gros Morne Mountain, the summit of which can be reached using one of the most challenging hiking trails in the park:  James Callaghan Trail:

Parks Canada:  Gros Morne National Park

  

The Google Streetview hike (in blue on the satellite map below) starts along the ridge at the northwest part of the trail and goes on to the two lookouts marked on the above map.

Here is the Start of the Google Streetview Hike:

You continue climbing up Gros Morne Mountain and eventually reach a truly spectacular lookout point:

Check out Steve Silva's beautifully filmed hike up the James Callaghan Trail:

Amazing Places on Our Planet provides an excellent overview of the park:

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada in 4K Ultra HD

UNESCO has named Gros Morne National Park  a World Heritage Site.

A park guide tells us about the fascinating geology of the park:

 

South Georgia Island Trek

South Georgia Island is an elongated island in the South Atlantic Ocean near the cluster known as the South Sandwich Islands:

Wikipedia:  Location of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean

An excellent overview of the island from Earth from Space:

Visit South Georgia Island with Swoop Antarctica:

Or on an expedition with Mark Gottlieb and National Geographic Explorer:

Or experience a thrilling winter on South Georgia Island with Mark Philips and lots of wildlife: 

Check out a longer, informative documentary on South Georgia and its wildlife:

The South Georgia Trek is a loop trail that begins on the shore near the top of the island and then heads inland into the mountains:

Trailhead is on the shore of Right Whale Bay, in Barber Cove near a King Penguin colony:

You can head inland or continue along the coast to visit seals and more King Penguins:

The King Penguin Colony is quite enormous:

Heading inland along the river valley, you encounter more seals and more stunning scenery:

As you continue up river, the terrain turns mountainous:

You can continue climbing up into the mountains and then look back down the river valley for an amazing panorama:

White Island - New Zealand

gérard from Nouméa, (Nouvelle-Calédonie) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

After the recent horrific tragedy, the best way to visit White Island is virtually, through Google Street View.

White Island is an active volcano located off the north east  coast of New Zealand:

 
White Island is located on the notorious Ring of Fire that has more than 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes:

Google Street View follows a circular trail from the island pier up to the center of the crater and back:

You begin your trek at the island pier:

The Great Cathedrals: Gargoyles

Gargoyles of Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, France

Gargoyles are the unsung heroes of the great cathedrals, protecting them in a very practical way, as I became uncomfortably aware one rainy day, when a gargoyle drooled down the back of my neck!

Shadiversity sets us straight on the difference between Grotesques and Gargoyles:

The Historical Origin of Gargoyles

Photographer Lee Kane has a great page devoted to...

The Origin of Gargoyles in Europe 

A chilled out looking gargoyle - Cathedrale de Moulins

The Westologist also has an interesting gargoyle bestiary in his post entitled...

Imagination in the Gutter

Dragon Gargoyle, Saint Vitus Cathedral (built 1344 – 1929), Prague — Photo by Richard Seaman

DocSpot provides a fascinating if somewhat sensational documentary video on gargoyles, with music by Carl Orff (Carmina Burana):

Gargoyles:  Guardians of the Gate

One of the most interesting and extensive galleries of gargoyles is at the website of Dolores Herrero, art historian and gargoyle specialist.  She breaks her galleries down by country and the photography is excellent.  She also writes an informative blog on all aspects of gargoyles:

Dolores Herrero:  Passionate about Gargoyles 

Wikipedia provides a good and varied...

Gallery of Gargoyles

A good place for Google Gargoyle Gazing is on the roof, and Milan Cathedral allows you to ascend and clamber about on...

The Roof of the Cathedral

The American Architect and Artist John Taylor Arms did an intriguing series of gargoyle etchings.  Here are some samples from his Gargoyle Series:

John Taylor Arms - Guardians of the Spire

John Taylor Arms - Sentinels

John Taylor Arms - Watching the People Below, Amiens Cathedral

John Taylor Arms - Through Wind and Rain

 

John Taylor Arms - Gargoyle and Quarry

John Taylor Arms - Gargoyle of Amiens (Number 20 of Gargoyle Series)

Further Gargoyle Galleries:

Ghastly Gargoyles Around the Globe 

Creepy Gargoyle Gallery at HowStuffWorks 

Field Guide to Gargoyles Part 1
  Field Guide to Gargoyles Part 2  

Field Guide to Gargoyles Part 3

Field Guide to Gargoyles Part 4

Field Guide to Gargoyles Part 5

The Great Cathedrals: Prague

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.  Construction began in 1344 and continued sporadically until it was finally completed in 1929.

St. Vitus Cathedral is within the grounds of the famous Prague Castle:

Guide to Prague provides a good introduction to the cathedral:

The Creative Adventurer provides...

A Guided Tour of St. Vitus Cathedral's Incredible Stained Glass

 One of the cathedral's stained glass windows was designed by the famous Czech Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha (1860 - 1939).  There is a wonderful museum in Prague devoted to his work:

MUCHA MUSEUM PRAGUE

As you walk around the cathedral, you reach a golden gate and are suddenly confronted by 

The Last Judgment Mosaic (1371)

Gigapan provides an excellent viewing of the mosaic, allowing you to pan right in at any point until you can see the individual squares that make up the work:

The Golden Gate Mosaic

The St. Vitus Cathedral website provides a spectacular and very detailed interactive virtual tour:

St. Vitus Cathedral Virtual Tour

Explore the cathedral with Google Street View