A site to behold! 🙏

I took the train (all by myself😊) on what should have been a 5 hour trip to Anuradhapura. For some reason the trip took close to 7 hours, but I am not complaining.

It's around 127 miles north of Colombo and is an UNESCO World 🌍 Heritage Site, both for it's religious and archeological importance.

I have visited many religious sites all over the world, from Vatican, (christian), Istanbul (Muslim) Bangkok (Buddhist) etc, but I don't think I have ever seen anything as spectacular as this.

Had to buy a shawl to cover my white sleeveless top. No such requirement at the Golden Temple in Dambulla. Different towns, different cultures.

And when you consider that most buildings in Anuradhapura are over 2500 years old, it makes it more amazing.

My first image of one of the Temples. I arrived at night.

According to Wikipedia:

 "Anuradhapura is the cradle of the Hydraulic Sinhalese civilisation, Theravada Buddhism, and the longest-serving ancient capital of Sri Lanka that has survived for 1500 years. 

The networks of ancient temples and monasteries now cover over 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of area of the city today.

The founding of the city is around 437 BCE, but the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it a major human settlement on the island for almost three millennia and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia, a cradle of Sinhalese civilization.

It's also longest-serving ancient capital of Sri Lanka  and has survived for 1500 years.

The city was mostly destroyed and largely deserted after 993 CE, with the Chola invasion from South India.[2] Although several attempts were made by later Sinhalese kings to return the capital to Anuradhapura, it was not reestablished as a major population centre of the island until the British colonial era in the 19th century CE. Despite its decline as a political centre, Anuradhapura remained a vital pilgrimage site for Buddhists throughout the medieval period and continues to be a significant spiritual destination today.[3][4] The modern revival of Anuradhapura began in the 1870s under British colonial rule, with infrastructure and urban planning initiatives aimed at supporting administration and accommodating pilgrims.[5] The contemporary city, much of which was moved during the mid-20th century to preserve the site of the ancient capital, is a major road junction of northern Sri Lanka and lies along a railway line. The city is the headquarters of Sri Lanka's archeological survey, and tourism is a significant factor in its economy."

(I was all decked out in my white sleeveless blouse to take the tour but had to cover my "mawga" arms. Also, I bought the bottom to enter a temple in Thailand but had to pin the split down to the knee, as too much leg was showing.🥴

Not complaining, just pointing out that different areas have different cultures in the same way even siblings can differ in their beliefs and practices.)

The young caretaker at Airbnb I stayed, gave me these petals. I thought they were for my room so left them at home.

I should have taken them to one of the shrines to use them to pay tribute to Lord Buddha.

 I live and learn.🫢.

Adherents putting gifts all around Lord Buddha's reclining image. They even bring cooked food!🤔.

Drummers leading some worshipers.

Loads of flower blossoms are given to worshipers to put on the altars at the Temples and Pagoda at the holy site.

The bottom of the main temples are wrapped with the Buddhist flag. It's quite a ritual performed by the monks.

While some of us are busy debating whether Buddhism is a religion or a way of life, to the thousands I saw there in May 2025, it is definitely a religion. 

They came to meditate, pray, pay homage to  Lord Buddha, give him gifts and get blessings.

And as part of this ritual, they bring (cooked) food, flowers and gifts for his monks and the smell of incense is all over, pleasant and calming. 

To me it was kind of surreal, especially since I have never witnessed such a crowd at a religious site a before.

Once a baby becomes 3 months old, he/ she is taken to a Temple to be blessed.

This is a man-made lake near the main Temples. Some adherents go there to cool off after a day of meditation and prayer.

One of the large rooms where incense are burned.

Despite the thousands moving through the large area, it is spotless as, workers ( volunteers?) are all around always cleaning up.

I tell you, the beauty of the artistry, carvings, sculptures is really overwhelming.

I have also been learning about the unlimited generosity of ardent Buddhists, but I was still surprised to see the truckloads of foods and fruits that local farmers brought there to give away free to those who were at the Temples🙏.

As I passed through one exit, I got a hand of ripe, bumpy bananas aka chiney banana, my absolute favorite.😊

 I was so tired after walking miles just to see what was taking place at the religious sites that I didn't even bother to visit the ruins.

They said this lady was a Hindu priestess who was performing some kind of a healing ritual there! 

Links. 

https://youtu.be/3mOwnITV3A0?si=joM-RF96EtluXgg3

https://youtu.be/80AuEBrPUsA?si=LxbG3X63mb_rLqHq

Tarquinia and the Etruscans

I have been traveling for at least the past six  decades, but cannot recall a more enjoyable, educational and impactful visit to anywhere, than that spent in Tarquinia, Italy yesterday.

At the entrance of a 2000 year old cave

I can't say specifically whether it was because the majority of visitors headed to the more popular destination of Rome, so we never had to deal with crowds or if it was the natural beauty, lushness, intriguing history, the warmth of our tour guides, the people, food or what exactly left me feeling so fascinated and happy, but it just all came together in Tarquinia.

Our guide Andrea.

                       He is from Tarquinia.

His wife Erna posing with us.

We later met their son Giovanni and dog Zorro.

Warm family.❤️.

Giovanni and Zorro 

Everything came together for me here. after disembarking at the port of Civitavecchia (aka Port of Rome). 

I am super happy that I opted to go to little known Tarquinia to learn about the Etruscans, who ruled that region from the to 3rd to 8 centuries BC, and did not follow the crowd to Rome.

 Been there a few times before anyway .

Everywhere is beautiful art. This painting is at the entrance of the port.

You know MSC, is not a particularly good cruise line as far as I am concerned but their choice of ports of call so far has been unique and enjoyable. (Check out my blogs on Tenerife, Marrakech and Valencia. Fantastic pictorial memories.)

Everywhere in Tarquinia is lush and green

Behind the green patch at the top overlooking the Mediterranean sea is where the Etruscans originally built their city.

Relaxing at lunch. L-r: Beatrice, Federica, Sonja, Giovanni, Erna, Joan.

But I am getting beyond myself😊.

We spent an educational morning learning the fascinating history of the Etruscans who as you know, ruled the area before they were wiped out and their culture virtually destroyed by the Romans.

However, much of that history is preserved in a 2000 year old cave which was only discovered in the 60's.

Above are replicas of the city found in the cave!

The Nazis adopted the second symbol above but to the Etruscans, it depicted the four seasons of the year.

Rich Etruscans had paintings outside their tomb area, depicting their likes and dislikes.

The bodies of deceased rich people were drained of all blood and some mummified.

Paintings from that era also imply that women had a an equal or dominant role in some sectors.
These drawings in the cave tell many stories.

 For example, the one below shows that the deceased/artist disliked homosexuality, as the bull in the picture advances menacingly towards a homosexual couple.😲.

The bull is not aggressive to this form of erotica though😁.

It's a threesome so, he just walks away.

As there are no leopards in Italy, this painting implies they had some association with Africa.

This painting indicates that the deceased was involved in sporting activities.

All types of everyday activities and religious practices are displayed in the cave underground.

UNESCO has however declared the original burial site of the Etruscans a cultural heritage site.

Above ground at the UNESCO site

Above ground is just as fascinating, as it highlights both Etruscans and Roman cultures.

Above is inside and outside of 14th century Catholic Church.

Rich Etcrustans displayed their wealth by the height of their homes resembling towers!

This cathedral was built in the 12th century. It burned down and was rebuilt in the 15th century.

You can see the Mediterranean Sea from some points in town.

People used to wash their clothes here 

The Vatican owns lots of property here. You know them by the Pope's emblem above the main door .

Things are so laid back in Tarquinia that products are just left out in the open unattended.

At this art studio above, we could see the artist sleeping inside while everything was left open. 

Michelle and Sonja could only pay for the things they liked when his wife drove in sometime later.

Even at the Mayor's office which was closed because it was Saturday, Eran was able to show us around as the keys were left hanging for whoever wished to enter!

Do you know the Umbrella Pine, so named because of the shape? I am not familiar with it but they say it common to the Mediterranean.

Random memories through pics.