CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST SAVIOUR, VEROIA

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ Saviour is a landmark historical building in the Northern Greek city of Veroia. The church began to be built in the late 13th/early 14th century by Xenos Psalidas, and upon his death was completed by his wife, Euphrosyne. The deed of ownership of the church was transferred to the monk Ignatios Kalothetos by imperial decree of Andronicus II in February 1314.

In 1314/1315 the church was decorated with frescoes by Georgios Kallergis. Internally the frescoes on the wall are divided into three zones: The lowermost shows full-bodied depictions of the saints; in the middle narrower zone there are busts of evangelists, saints and prophets; and in the upper zone there are biblical scenes.

Pride of place are given depictions of the Crucifixion of Christ and of His Resurrection, found in the northern and southern apses. Also of interest is the portrait of the monk Ignatios Kalothetos who is praying to Saint Arsenios.

The church also has frescoes from 1326 and 1355 depicting local nobles such as Maria Synodené on her death bed. There are some frescoes from 1727 on the Northern external aspect, which also include votive inscriptions of local inhabitants. It is perhaps unfortunate that the frescoes are not well preserved, but one gains a powerful impression of how splendid this small church must have been in its heyday.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,

and also part of the Spiritual Sundays meme,

and also part of the inSPIREd Sunday meme.

PERTH FROM THE AIR

Situated beside the Swan River, Perth is a living picture postcard, as this view fo the city from an airplane shows. Regular flights to Perth depart from overseas, all state capitals and many regional locations, landing you just 20 minutes from the central business district. Perth offers an eclectic mix of city culture and stunning nature, from Perth’s burgeoning bar scene and open arts festivals, to its world-class beaches and expansive parklands. Australia’s sunniest capital city, Perth embraces a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. Whether in the 400 hectares of Kings Park in the city or the inviting clear waters and spectacular sunsets at Cottesloe Beach, Perth is sure to please every visitor.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

SALT LAKES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The dramatic nature of Australian landscape is perhaps nowhere more apparent than when flying over it on an airplane. Here are some photos I took when Flying to Perth, in the southern part of Western Australia. Salt lakes of assorted sizes occur throughout southwestern Australia.

Geologic studies indicate that these salt lakes were once part of a very different ecosystem that is presently a line of salt lakes stretching roughly 170 kilometers north to south. Examination of rock layers suggests that these lakes were parts of massive drainage channels. These channels likely formed before the Jurassic Period (during the Age of the Dinosaurs). At that time, Australia and Antarctica were part of the same continent. The drainage channel that now holds salt lakes in Australia was likely fed by headwaters in Antarctica, which is now frozen and 3,800 kilometers away.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

UDAIPUR, INDIA

Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located 403 kilometres southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, 248 km west of Kota, and 250 km northeast from Ahmedabad. Udaipur is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency.

The Guhils (Sisodia) clan ruled the Mewar and its capital was shifted from Chittorgarh to Udaipur after founding city of Udaipur by Maharana Uday Singh. The Mewar province became part of Rajasthan after India became independentApart from its history, culture, and scenic locations, it is also known for its Rajput-era palaces. The Lake Palace, for instance, covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake. Many of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels. It is often called the "Venice of the East", and is also nicknamed the "Lake City". Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are considered some of the most beautiful lakes in the state.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

TASMANIAN COUNTRYSIDE

Tasmania is a place of wild beauty and Australia's smallest state. The island presents enormous variety within a compact space. It is about the size of the Republic of Ireland, or that of Hokkaido in Japan, or twice the size of Switzerland. In this small area one finds |landscapes which change from green rainforested valleys, peaks and highland lakes to long glistening beaches, towering sea cliffs and cities that are not yet overwhelming. Often these contrasts are all within a 90-minute drive. It has a climate which is maritime and mild.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme,
and also part of the Psalm Sunday meme.

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river...

TASMANIAN PASTORAL

During my recent trip to Tasmania, I had occasion to drive between Hobart and Launceston. The weather was perfect for a road trip and as someone else was driving, I tried my hand at shooting a few photos fromt eh rapidly moving car ont he highway. I must say that even though the conditions were not ideal - dirty car windows and sometimes bumpy road -  I am quite pleased with my shots!

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

SWAN RIVER BRIDGES

The eighteen road and railway bridges of the Swan River are: Fremantle Railway Bridge, Fremantle Traffic Bridge (Fremantle), Stirling Bridge (Fremantle), Narrows Bridge (Kwinana Freeway/Mitchell Freeway), Narrows Bridge (northbound, Perth), Narrows Bridge (southbound, Perth), The Causeway (northbound, Perth), The Causeway (southbound, Perth), Goongoonup Bridge (East Perth), Windan Bridge (East Perth), Garratt Road Bridge (northbound, Maylands), Garratt Road Bridge (southbound, Maylands), Redcliffe Bridge (Bayswater), Guildford Road Bridge (Bassendean), Guildford Railway Bridge (Bassendean), Barkers Bridge (Guildford), Whiteman Bridge (Middle Swan) and finally the Upper Swan Bridge (Upper Swan).

Here are some of these bridges near Perth's CBD.

This post is part of the Sunday Bridges meme,

and also part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

PERTH PANORAMAS

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia, with an estimated population of 1.74 million living in the Perth metropolitan area.

Part of the South West Land Division of Western Australia, the majority of the metropolitan area of Perth is located on the Swan Coastal Plain, a narrow strip between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp, a low coastal escarpment. The first areas settled were on the Swan River, with the city's central business district and port (Fremantle) both still located on the river. Perth's metropolitan area is formally divided into a number of local government areas, which themselves consist of a large number of suburbs, extending from Two Rocks in the north to Rockingham in the south, and east inland to The Lakes.

These iconic views are taken from King's Park.

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Scenic Sunday meme.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT

The Great Australian Bight is a large bight, or open bay, off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia. Much of the Bight lies due south of the expansive Nullarbor Plain, which straddles the two Australian states of South Australia and Western Australia. The Eyre Highway passes close to the cliffs of the Bight between the Head of the Bight and Eucla.

The coast line of the Great Australian Bight is characterised by cliff faces (up to 60 m high), surfing beaches and rock platforms, ideal for whale-watching. The waters of the Great Australian Bight, despite being relatively shallow, are not fertile. While most continental shelves are rich in sea life and make popular fishing areas, the barren deserts north of the bight have very little rainfall, and what there is mostly flows inland, to dissipate underground or in salt lakes. In consequence, the Great Australian Bight receives very little of the runoff that fertilises most continental shelves and is essentially a marine desert. It is probably best noted for the large number of sharks that frequent its coastal waters, as well as the increasing numbers of Southern Right Whales that migrate within the region.

I was lucky enough to capture these views of the Bight when returning home from Perth in a recent trip, when a window seat was combined with some good weather and a great view from 11,000 m high.

This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme.