The illustration above is from The lighthouse [microform] : the story of a great fight between man and the sea by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894. Publication date 1899.
"Waves crash, birds scream, and rain pounds. Robert Eggers' “The Lighthouse” wants to drive you a little mad. It's not just a film about two people on the edge of sanity, it uses sound design and filmmaking tools to push you there too." Review
Norwegian composer and Tuba Player Daniel Herskedaldefies defies all conventions as a soloist on the tuba on The Lighthouse
For many years I have had a thing about lighthouses on the Atlantic. The following book always fascinated me: Lighthouses of the Atlantic Hardcover – 1 Mar. 2002. by Charles Daniel (Author), Philip Plisson (Illustrator), Guillaume Plisson (Illustrator). The map below is taken from this book. Every time I look at it, I feel a road trip coming on!
In fact my photos of lighthouses go back to when my two children were young; the Penmarch photo below is 27 years old. So this theme has a full on right to be in the blog. There is already a Lighthouse Category already (see right). Facebook's (FB) rather useful search engine allowed me to dig out some of my past visits to: Cabo da Roca, Le Lanterne, St. Catherine's, and many more beautiful lighthouses. A large part of text and images below make use of these past photos from Facebook with the original comments (maybe with a bit added) and date.
Below shows Billy, my son, and his Dad (me) in about 1995. This is from a family holiday and shows Penmarch lighthouse, Finistère department of Brittany, northwestern France. It lies 18 km south-west of Quimper by road. I remember this place stank of seaweed.
Whilst on a family camping holiday to Brittany we all went on a ferry to an island, then on a bike trip to see the lighthouse pictured below (about 1999). I can't remember the name of the Island or lighthouse, but I had the daughter on the back of my bike and so she was happy in the heat at least.
The Lighthouse at Cabo da Roca (below), is the most Westerly point of continental Europe. Windy! Being able to visit this place, on a day off from a work trip, was a big treat for me (20 years ago). Great spot. The cape is in the Portuguese municipality of Sintra, near Azóia, in the southwest of the district of Lisbon, forming the westernmost extent of the Serra de Sintra. Cabo da Roca was known to the Romans as Promontorium Magnum and during the Age of Sail as the Rock of Lisbon. On the bus trip there we passed empty beaches with big breakers plus another lighthouses, which I managed to take photos of, see below. (20 May 2012)
Two lighthouses caught from bus ride to Cabo da Roca, 2012. The first is Cabo da Roca as we arrive.
Belem Lighthouse, from an afternoon off work group trip to Lisbon. 2012. "The original lighthouse was installed in 1865 on the bastion esplanade of Torre de Belém. Today it sits in the Ponta Delgada (Azores) wharf replacing their original one, damaged in a storm. What you see on the promenade is an 8-meter lighthouse whose lantern shape replicates that of the original garitas in the Torre de Belém". Tripadvisor
Above: "Two Lighthouses", by Wolfgang Reinhardt post on my Facebook, May 2012.
Lizard Lighthouse, most southerly point on UK mainland. One of most beautiful spots in the world! in fact they regard themselves as Celtic down here, and all the men say all right my hansome! Even to other men!! (6th June 2012)
About 2018 I took Meghan kite flying to Lizard
Doing Le Lanterne tower, 12th century lighthouse! La Rochelle, France. (19th July 2014)
Smeaton's Tower Plymouth. an Eddystone Lighthouse. (23 July 2014)
Strumble Head lighthouse from afar. Strumble Head Lighthouse stands on Ynys Meicel (from Welsh: St. Michael's Island), also known as Strumble Head, a rocky island at the northwest corner of Pencaer area, five miles west of the town of Fishguard, in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales. (17 August 2014)
St. Catherine's Lighthouse, Ventnor. First St Cathrine's is where in 1901 Marconi transmitted radio waves to Lizard in Cornwall; the sea fret came in as we walked. Located on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. (9 April 2015)
St Catherine's Oratory built 1328, what is left is a lighthouse part known as the Pepper pot; next to it an iron age fort and from here fantastic views of coast. (9 April 2015)
Size matters? Small lighthouse but sweet in windy Porto — at Farol Da Senhora Da Luz. Portugal. (7 August 2015)
24th July 2020. Hartland Point in North Devon, mainly to see the light house (there is a short video below). Very short coastal path circular walk (7K) but beautiful spot.
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