Finland has been the battle ground of crusaders from Sweden and Germany; and occupied by Russia. Suomenlinna (Our Land) is a fortress built by Finland for naval defense on a group of islands near Helsinki.

Scotland and the UK have been at odds for centuries. Thousands of people have attended a pro-Scottish independence march through the streets of Edinburgh as organizers insist momentum is growing in the face of Brexit.

There are social-economic strata defined by law that classifies neighborhoods into one of six levels, one being the poorest and six being the wealthiest. The poor have housing and utilities subsidies and pay lower taxes while the rich pay more.

In a blunder by the Peruvian government in the early 1990s, Peru began a program to sterilize poor indigenous women.

Santiago Calatrava designed this footbridge as an enormous sundial. Completed in 2004, it's an international attraction for architecture fans.

Everyone in Cuba gets a Supplies Booklet that is essentially a ration book. Qualified supplies are subsidized at a below-market rate and quantities are limited to prevent black market resale.

Timkat 2025

Timkat, the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany, is one of the most vibrant and significant religious festivals in Ethiopia, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. It is celebrated on January 19th and lasts for three days, involving elaborate rituals, processions, and ceremonies.

Ketera

The festivities begin on the eve of Timkat, known as Ketera, where preparations are in full swing. Tabots are taken out from the churches in a grand procession and carried to a body of water, symbolizing the Jordan River. The tabots are wrapped in luxurious cloth and shaded by vibrant umbrellas, a key feature of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.

Priests, deacons, and other participants don their most colorful ceremonial attire, chanting hymns and prayers accompanied by the rhythmic beat of traditional drums, the sound of sistra (a type of musical instrument), and the sway of ceremonial staffs. The faithful follow the tabots in procession, often singing and ululating, creating an atmosphere charged with spiritual energy. 

Timkat

On the morning of Timkat, believers gather at the water's edge for a mass service and to witness the central event—the blessing of the water. As dawn breaks, priests bless the water with prayers and by dipping the tabots into the water. This ceremony re-enacts the baptism of Jesus and is believed to cleanse the participants of their sins. Many attendees then participate in a ritual immersion, symbolizing their own renewal and commitment to their faith.

Return of the Tabots

After the water blessing, a grand procession begins to return the tabots to their respective churches. This procession is equally joyful and celebratory, with the faithful singing, dancing, and drumming along the way. The return of the tabots signifies the closing of the main Timkat celebrations.

I'm not considered a horseman although I've spent many hours riding mountain trails. In the 1990s, Sylvia and I spent five weeks over ten years riding in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.

Edvard Grieg, famous for Norwegian musical compositions,  lived here in idyllic isolation. Troldhaugen means "troll hill".

Grieg incorporated Norwegian folk music into his compositions which helped develop a cultural identity for Norway.