Viva la Voyage

The Sights of Egypt

2012-01-29T02:56:00.007-07:00

This is an attendant standing at one of the entrances to Abu Simbel. I did not realize until we visited that behind the giant statues is an elaborately carved and painted interior, with many more large statues. It is miraculous that this was moved and saved from the flooding from the Aswan Dam.
Arabic calligraphy is quite artistic. This sign is above the doorway in the Ar Rifai Mosque in Cairo, where the tomb of the Shah of Iran is located.
This is a typical street scene in the old Fatimid district of Cairo, a teeming maze of narrow streets and alleys dating back about 1,000 years. Vendors and merchants push carts with food and other goods for sale. Not surprisingly, there is a minaret visible in the background.
We travelled to Egypt on a group tour. We saw the crowds thinning out and remained a few minutes until we were the last ones at Abu Simbel. We hustled back to the bus so we would not keep the rest of the group waiting. The reward for our effort was being able to get some photos of the temples without dozens of other tourists in the pictures.
The shape of these arches show that this is a Roman structure, not an Arabic building. Indeed, this is part of what is called the Babylon Fortress and was constructed by the Roman Emperor Trajan on the site of a Persian fort dating to the 6th Century, B.C. It is located in the old Coptic Christian quarter of Cairo. The Arab conquest of Egypt included a siege of this fort for 6 months until it fell in 641 A.D.
When we travel as part of a tour group, one of the challenges and at times frustrations is not being able to stop whenever we want and take photos. Sometimes we will sit with the camera the bus window to try to snap quick photos of street scenes, which is what I did with this photo of watermelons being sold from the back of a pickup truck in Cairo. There are advantages, of course, to group travel, including security and convenience. The Egyptian travel police had an armed guard with our group at all times. He was very helpful in looking after everyone in our group, along with our excellent tour director and local guides. We have done about 10 Tauck Tours.

The Theaters and Architecture of Chicago

2012-01-22T02:56:00.005-07:00

This week we are showing photos of Chicago at night. The top photo is the theater district. Chicago cannot match New York theater, but it has excellent live theater compared to most American cities, and we have seen some memorable plays there, in both large and small venues.
Looking through the windows of office buildings at night can yield results, such as the ornate ceiling of this building on Michigan Avenue, across from Millennium Park.
This is the top of the Trump building, photographed from the cocktail lounge at the top of the John Hancock building, at sunset, with a zoom lens, of course, as these buildings are on opposite ends of the Magnificent Mile.
This shows part of the skyline of Chicago reflected in the shiny stainless steel of the Could Gate sculpture, commonly known as the "bean" in Millennium Park. The sculpture was constructed between 2004 and 2006 by artist Anish Kapoor. It is made of 168 stainless steel plates that were welded together and high polished so that there are no visible seams. It is 66 feet (20 m) long and 42 feet (13 m) high, and people can walk under it in the middle.
This is the band shell in Millenium Park, with part of the skyline behind it. It is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, named for the family that owns Hyatt Hotels, and I assume that they donated a lot of money for this. It was designed by Frank Gehry, as is obvious from its style, similar to the Disney Concert Hall in L.A. or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
In contrast to the modern architecture of the last few photos, this final photo in the series shows the illuminated tops of the flying buttresses of the Chicago Tribune Tower on the right, and the clock tower of the Wrigley Building on the left, two classics of Chicago architecture that anchor the two sides of Michigan Avenue on the north side of the Chicago River.

The Wonders of Egypt

2012-01-15T02:56:00.004-07:00

The Sphinx is one of the most recognizable landmarks on earth. In addition to exploring it during the day, we returned at night for the laser light and sound show, which illuminates both the Sphinx and the nearby Great Pyramids of Giza, a suburb of Cairo.
I love to take photos of people in foreign lands, especially children. We were in Egypt about 5 years ago. I wonder how this child is doing today, after the civil unrest in Egypt this year.
We walked around the old Coptic Christian are of Cairo. While walking down one of the pedestrian streets, we saw this monk walking in a church courtyard. I was able to et this photo of him as he approached the church door, decorated with the Coptic cross.
This is the entrance to St. Sergius and Bacchus Church, which is believed to be the site where Mary, Joseph and the Christ child stayed when they fled into Egypt. The church was built in the 4th century.
A camel ride near the pyramids, and this classic pose, is perhaps an obligatory tourist activity for any visit to Egypt. Dave and I could not resist. Riding a camel is much more comfortable than a horse, and they squat down to make it easy to climb on and off.
This is part of the dining room at the Mena House Hotel, where we stayed. We had a view of the Great Pyramid from our room. At this hotel, we had dinner in the same room where Roosevelt and Churchill met during World War II and where Presidents Carter and Anwar Sadat commemorated peace between Egypt and Israel. I love staying in hotels with a spectacular view, as I feel like I am on vacation even if I have to spend most of the day in the room on the computer and telephone doing work.

The Power of Patterns in Africa

2012-01-08T02:56:00.005-07:00

This week we are featuring some of the details revealed during our safari in Tanzania. Giraffes are magnificent, and we had some delightful opportunities to view them from close range.
The patterns on this turtle are different than what we are used to seeing in desert tortoises in Arizona where we live, or in the sea turtles that we see in the ocean near our condos in Costa Rica. Our safari jeep stopped to allow this turtle to cross the road.
These two Thompson's gazelles squared off and butted heads a few times, then stopped. I don't know what the cause of their conflict was. There were lots of other gazelles around who just ignored them, and neither of them got hurt.
I liked the patterns of the veins in this leaf, perhaps because we do not have many large, leafy plants in Arizona. The depth of field at close range is a challenge.
We were at the Ngorongoro Crater in February, when the grasses were green, the water was plentiful, and there were large flocks of flamingoes. We enjoyed watching them stroll the lakeshore, and from our room at the lodge up on the crater we could even see patterns from the animals in the crater floor below.
These two impalas enjoyed the shade. Zebras will often stand in opposite directions like this so that they can watch out for predators for each other, and perhaps these impalas are doing the same thing.

Artistic Plants and Critters of Cape Breton

2012-01-01T02:56:00.006-07:00

Believe it or not, what looks to be the lower twig, connecting the two other twigs in this photo, is actually an animal rather than part of the tree. We watched it move up the branch. I have never seen an animal so perfectly camouflaged to imitate the plant on which it lives.
As readers of my Scottsdale Daily Photo blog know, I like macro photography. So, in Nova Scotia I naturally needed to try some macro shots of subjects there, such as this mushroom.
Our friend's father's lodge has a screen room at a creek, with thistle growing outside.
There is something graceful about the pattern of pine cones resting as they fell.
I don't see many caterpillars in Arizona, so I had to get this photo. For an animal, he was a cooperative, slow-moving subject.

The Town of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

2011-12-25T02:56:00.006-07:00

San Pedro de Atacama is the main town that is a base for exploration of the Atacama Desert. There are lodges and stores that sell hiking and backpacking supplies. It is a small town, with mud and adobe buildings and walls. Horses are a common mode of transportation.This charming little girl peaked out of her doorway to take a look at Dave and me taking photographs of the small town. Wells and irrigation are needed for any cultivation, as the area gets almost no rain. The hot, dry conditions support a small variety of corn in contrast the the large corn grown in the American Midwest that we are used to seeing in supermarkets.Shade is at a premium. This is a small cafe across from the main square and church in town. The store on the left is an Internet cafe, as internet and cell phone service is limited to the town in this region. If everything were new and freshly painted, the world would be a dull place for photographers.

The Grandeur of Bellagio Villas

2011-12-18T02:56:00.006-07:00

The villas in Bellagio and elsewhere along the shores of Lake Como are delightful to visit. Some are palatial. Some have smaller buildings in the gardens, such as the one above at Villa Serbelloni, which has a rich, weathered patina.The gardens at Villa Serbelloni include a forest. The villa occupies the crest of the hill above Bellagio, with 12 miles (18 km) of paths to stroll and admire the details of the forest and garden.When not contemplating the gardens, why not enjoy the view? This is a view from Villa Serbelloni northward up Lake Como to the Alps of Switzerland. St. Moritz is not too far over the snow-capped peaks in the distance. People who have stayed at Villa Serbelloni, which dates from the 1400's, include Leonardo da Vinci, Queen Victoria, and John Kennedy.The Villa Melzi sits on the shore of Lake Como in Bellagio. This is the area behind the villa where carriages and other equipment was stored.The mansion of Villa Melzi was built in the 1700's and has hosted Napoleon, Emperor Franz Joseph, and other dignitaries.

Magnificent Fall Colors in Cape Breton

2011-12-11T02:56:00.010-07:00

We return this week for a few more photos from my trip to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, for the Canadian Thanksgiving in early October. It is nice to have Thanksgiving occuring at the same time as the fall colors. Thanksgiving in the USA comes too late for fall colors in most places.The turning leaves are delightful regardless of whether it is a hillside forest or small twig that is displaying the fall colors.So many of the houses in rural Nova Scotia look so lonely against the backdrop of forest, sea and sky. People here are self-reliant and hearty. I like to slow down my shutter speed to 1/15th of a second or slower, turn my f-stop high, and use my tripod to take a photo slow enough to blur the waterfall and capture the ribbony effect of moving water. I recently bought a filter that is like sunglasses for the camera to take slower photos on bright days, but I have not yet needed to use the filter.We took a couple of days to drive around the Cabot Trail on the northern end of Cape Breton Island, which is the northern part of Nova Scotia. The trees were more colorful on our drive back than our drive out, having become more instense within just two days.

Churches and Lobsters of Nova Scotia

2011-12-04T02:56:00.005-07:00

This is typical of the churches of Nova Scotia, and I presume that this will look familiar to people from New England. We don't have churches like this in Arizona. I was lucky, as we drove past this church the sky was a flat gray, but by the time I walked around looking for detailed photo opportunities, the sun emerged and the sky changed and offered to contrast to the white siding.My husband, Dave, was not able to join me on my recent trip with friends to Nova Scotia. When I talked to him on the phone, I said because he missed the chance to take a photo through two windows on both sides of the church to the graveyard on the other side, I got the shot for him. The simplicity of the church and its graveyard are timeless.Our friends had never taken so long to drive from Halifax to their father's place in Cape Breton Island because I kept making them stop for photos, such as this dock at a lobsterman's house.The lobsterman was doing some chores around his house, probably getting ready for a long winter. He did not look too happy that we were walking around taking photos.Of course I had to get a shot of the lobster traps. We don't see those in Arizona.

The Mountains of Atacama, Chile

2011-11-27T02:56:00.008-07:00

The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth, but there are pockets of water. This is an ice-crusted lake and marsh at sunrise high in the Andes. It was very cold, even though this photo was taken last November, during the South American spring.
This is a photo of the Explora Lodge where we stayed in San Pedro de Atacama. I took this photo from a patio on the roof of the lodge, looking over the wing of rooms where we stayed, to the volcanic mountains in the distance. The sun is intense. The lodge has the largest private telecope in Chile and offers night astronomy sessions in the telescope.There are salt flats in the wetlands of the Atacama, with a crusty surface from the minerals left behind by the evaporated water. There is a wide variety of shapes, textures and colors.We loved the striking, intense colors of the sky, mountains, lake and high desert brush. Coming from Arizona, we are used to the climate. If you expect mountains to have pine forests and grassy meadows, you should go tot he eastern slopes of the Andes, such as the lakes region around Barilochi in Argentina, rather than the Atacama in Chile.At one point we counted 30 volcanic cones visible from a single spot. I can't imagine what this region must have been like when the volcanoes were active, although a few of them are still active today.

Fall Colors on Cape Breton Island

2011-11-20T02:56:00.005-07:00

I enjoyed the fall colors in Nova Scotia about a month ago. This ivy was climbing the wall of a rural church.
Not all the colors were by mother nature, although it almost seems like a rule of nature that barns should be red.
The colors were just beginning to turn when I was there in early October. We took a drive around Cape Breton Island for several days and the colors were better on the way back than the way there. Just a few days made a difference.
Cape Breton Island is at the northern end of Nova Scotia. There are coves, streams and forests around every bend in the road. The drive around the island is called the Cabot Trail.
No trip to Nova Scotia would be complete without a lobster dinner. The friends who I stayed with at Inn on the Intervale got some local lobsters and prepared them for dinner. My husband was not able to join this trip, as he had too much work at the office. We have resolved to return together in a future year, as it was such a delightful trip.

Thanksgiving on Cape Breton Island

2011-11-13T02:56:00.007-07:00

A few weeks ago I visited Cape Breton Island to enjoy Canadian Thanksgiving with the family of some dear friends. This is the creek on the property of our friends father, with a brilliant display of fall colors. After his father retired, he built a 14-room lodge near where he was born.
This is our friends' father's barn. He cleared the land and built a lodge, the Inn on the Intervale, and barn using only the lumber that came from the property. One of the younger members of the family is eager to run to the barn, where we had our happy hour before Thanksgiving dinner.
This is the interior staircase and chandelier of the lodge. It is gorgeous inside and looks just like a north country lodge should look like.
This is the table set for Thanksgiving dinner. It was sunny and warm enough to eat dinner on the screened porch, with a view of the surrounding forest, sunset, and later the night sky. The potatoes that we had for dinner were picked, or dug up, that morning.
This is part of the interior decorations of the Inn on the Intervale. Here is a link to its website. Our friend's father, after he retired from being a policeman in Michigan, returned to his birthplace in Nova Scotia, cleared some land and built the lodge. He also has several apartments on the property that he rents to tourists and visitors. They grow their own food.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks. Despite the challenges to our country and the world, we do have so much for which to be thankful. The Canadian Thanksgiving is very similar to Thanksgiving in the USA, but appropriately it is about 6 weeks earlier, as they have an earlier harvest up north.

The Details of Villa Balbianello

2011-11-06T01:56:00.001-07:00

This is the magical view of the Villa Balbianello that greets visitors as you are about to arrive. The only way to reach this spot is by boat from one of the the towns along Lake Como, as the Villa sits astride the tip of a peninsula and cannot be reached by visitors from land.
This Villa was built on the site of a Franciscan Monastery from the 1700's. It has many charming architectural details, such as this coat of arms.
This looks like a church, but inside this part of the villa are bedrooms and the kitchen. The Villa was last owned by Guido Monzino, from 1974 until his death in 1988. He was the heir to an Italian department store chain and a renowned world explorer. He was the first Italian to climb Everest, and he explored the polar regions. He died of lung cancer around age 60, as he was a heavy smoker.
An American military officer, Butler Ames, owned the Villa in the early 20th century, and he renovated it, including the garden, so my guess is that he is the one who installed this fireplace mantle to the entrance walkway near the front door to the Villa. Guido Manzino left the Villa to an Italian architectural trust, so the property is open to visitors. It is our favorite Villa along Lake Como, an area known for spectacular lakeside villas.

Mussel Ranch in Nova Scotia

2011-10-30T02:56:00.010-07:00

These look like Christmas ornaments, but they are buoys used by mussel ranchers to catch mussels. While driving in Nova Scotia a couple of weeks ago I stopped on the side of the road when we saw this Mussel Ranch, as I thought there might be some photo opportunities.
This is a view of the AquaPrime Mussel Ranch in Ship Harbour, Nova Scotia. It occupies a lovely cove on the drive north from Halifax.

Here is a bin of mussels. It is harder to raise and process mussels than clams, and they bring a lower price. You have to admire the hard work of the people who bring us our food. I picked up a brochure from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture with recipes for preparing mussels in dishes that can be steamed, fried, baked, microwaved, or made into a chowder.
This is an old shovel that they used for shoveling mussels. They have painted it to slow down the rust that has already rusted through. I think they probably thought I was nuts to be taking a photo of their old shovel, but one person's tool is another person's art.
These ropes dangle in the water from the buoys, and the mussels cling to the ropes. The mussel ranchers later raise the buoys and ropes and harvest the mussels.
Here you can see that they have lots of mussel buoys in the yard ready to be returned to the water to catch more mussels. I wish I could paint. There were so many quaint seaside scenes in Nova Scotia that would make excellent subjects for artists. I will show more photos from Nova Scotia in the future, as a few week ago I went to Cape Breton Island with friends to attend the Celtic Music Festival and celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with their family.

The Scenery of Atacama, Chile

2011-10-23T02:56:00.005-07:00

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the driest desert on earth. Some locations there have never received recorded rainfall, and the average rainfall in some regions of the desert is 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) per year. It has lots of volcanoes, as you see in this top photo of what is a very cloudy day in this region.
This is typical of the scenery. The Atacama is so dry because the moisture from the Pacific Ocean does not cross the coastal mountain range, and the tall Andes Mountains block moisture from the Amazon Basin from drifting westward.
San Pedro de Atacama is the main town for the tourist region of the Atacama. It is the location of outfitters who will take hikers and tourists up into the Andes. This is the main church of the town. There is also a small museum. The mummified human remains that had been a major attraction for the museum have been removed out of respect for the indigenous cultures.
Straw is a common roofing material. Many parts of the Atacama did not receive any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971, so the roofs are needed more for protection from the sun than rain.
The highest altitude geyser field in the world is in the Atacama. In many places visitors can walk right up to bubbling and steaming vents, with pungent sulfuric odors.

The Art and Whimsy of Chicago

2011-10-16T02:56:00.007-07:00

The entrance to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago often features an installation designed to attract attention and amusement. When we were in Chicago last November, these figures were next to the staircase leading up to the main entrance.
Architectural boat trips up the Chicago River are a restful way to enjoy and learn about the City's history and some of its downtown architecture.
The tower of the Wrigley Building is a landmark. Constructed in 1920-21, it was the firsttall office building north of the Chicago River. The tower is 425 feet (130 m) high, with a clock face almost 20 feet (6 m) in diameter.
This is a night view of the Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park. This is a seamless stainless steel egg, with a concave archway into which people can walk. It allows people to see the reflection of themselves and the Chicago skyline. If you look closely in this photo, you can see the buildings across Michigan Avenue beneath the light of the skyglow reflecting off low hanging clouds. This sculpture, by British artist Anish Kapoor, is 66 feet (40 m) long, 33 feet (20 m) high, and weighs 110 tons (100 metric tons).
The Miracle Mile shopping district is a good place to shop, especially if you have enough money to pull up in a car like this.
The top of the neo-classical Tribune Tower features flying buttresses 462 feet (131 m) above Michigan Avenue, across the street from the Wrigley Building. The Chicago Tribune sponsored a competition for what it said should be "the most beautiful and distinctive office building in the world" in 1922, with $100,000 in prize money ($50,000 to the winner and $20,000 for second place). The competition received lots of publicity. The winning submission of the 260 entries was by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood of New York, but many critics preferred the second place simplistic modern design by Finnish architect Eleil Saarinen. The Saarinen design influenced Raymond Hood's design of Rockefeller Center and was used for the 1929 Gulf Oil Building in Houston.

The Village of Cernobbi in Italy

2011-10-09T02:56:00.004-07:00

Cernobbi is a village on the west shore of Lake Como about a 10 minute ferry ride north of Como, which is at the southern end of the Lake. It is the site of the famous, elegant Villa d' Este hotel, which we have shown in the past. The photo above is the logo for the hotel composed of flowers at the entrance to the hotel.
Today we are showing a few scenes from the short walk through Cernobbi from the ferry landing to the Villa d' Este hotel, where we enjoyed an elegant lunch. Like many small Italian towns, there are charming details in the architecture of the churches and other buildings.
This house has wonderful details, including the ivy covered balcony, lattice trim under the eaves, painted accents, etc.
We always stop in churches when walking around towns in Europe. The are full of beauty and moments for reflection. This is my husband, Dave, emerging from a church in Cernobbi.
Above the doorway to the church were these angelic terra cotta figures.
Here is the church and bell tower together. My guess is that they were built at two different times, as they are different in appearance, with the bell tower lacking the terra cotta features of the church.

The Absolute Beauty of Yosemite

2011-10-02T02:56:00.002-07:00

This week we are showing some details of Yosemite, different from the more common scenes of Half Dome and El Capitan. My husband Dave took the photo above early in the morning, during low light, so he could slow the shutter speed in order to blur the rushing water of the river as a background for the dogwood branch and flower.
Mirror Lake is in the process of turning in to a meadow. The reflections in this scene will disappear in future years.
This is another of Dave's slow-shutter, early morning photos to show the rushing waters of the Merced River. A tripod, of course, is required for shots like this.
We went up to Glacier Point to get photos of Half Dome, but the clouds blanketing the High Sierra as sunset were another attractive subject for our cameras. We were there at the beginning of June, and there was still lots of snow on the ground.
Wildlife is part of the attraction of National Parks. We enjoyed watching a mother bear and her cubs while we were on a hike in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. We were careful, of course, not get too close and not to get between the mother and her cubs.

The Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona

2011-09-25T02:56:00.002-07:00

This week we return to the fabulous Music Palace in Barcelona. Above are a few of the 18 figures in the curved walls behind the stage. The are mosaics for the lower part of their bodies and sculptures emerging from the walls for the upper part of their bodies. There are 18 of them, each dressed differently and playing a different musical instrument.
The stained glass centerpiece of the ceiling is unbelievable. The colors are evocative of the sun in the center with the surrounding sky. It is the only concert hall in Europe that in the daytime needs no artificial light.
This view shows the balconies and ceiling at the rear of the theater. It seats 2,200 and was built in 1905-08 with the design objective of showcasing Catalan modernist architecture and decor. It is a masterpiece of curved design elements for which Gaudi is famous.
This is a view of the stage. You can see the figures from the first photo above behind the stage. This concert hall can be used only for music, not plays, as there is no room back stage for set changes.
This is part of the exterior. The Music Palace was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997, and justifiably so. The one frustration is that it is on a narrow street and it is impossible to get good angles from far enough away to photograph the exterior properly.

Villa Serbelloni

2011-09-18T02:56:00.004-07:00

The Villa Serbelloni occupies the hilltop above Bellagio, Italy. A tour of its gardens allows views on both sides of the lake, as Bellagio is near the tip of a peninsula that divides Lake Como. This is a view of the "other side" of Bellagio, a residential area on the other finger of the lake from the main part of town.
This is a view of the main building at Villa Serbelloni. It is a retreat for scholars owned by the Rockefeller Foundation, to which an heir to the Johnny Walker liquor fortune donated the Villa. The scholars use the Villa to contemplate their studies, and they dine together in the evening to exchange views and thoughts.
In addition to the main Villa building, there are a variety of small buildings that provide a place for scholars to stay on the Villa grounds. This is the roof of one of them.
Lake Como is shaped like an upside down letter "Y." Bellagio sits at center, with views up all three directions of the lake. This is a view from the Villa Serbelloni gardens northward towards Switzerland. We were there in late May of last year, when they had a longer winter and more snow in the Alps than normal.
This is a view from the Villa Serbelloni grounds down to the main part of Bellagio, with the bell tower of the small cathedral visible through the trees. When some friends asked us to plan another trip to Italy for a group of friends to travel together, my husband and I wanted to pick a place that we had been before so we could be comfortable making the arrangements, but it would also have to be a place to which we would want to return. Bellagio was an easy choice, and the 13 people who travelled with us last summer agreed.

The Geysers and Lands of Atacama

2011-09-11T02:56:00.009-07:00

This line of steam is part of the highest altitude geyser field on earth, about 16,000 feet (4,876 m.) above sea level in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The geysers are active every morning until about 9:00 a.m., so a very early departure to reach the geysers at sunrise is wise.
The stark colors of the Atacama are amazing. We traveled for hours each day through scenes like this during our visit to this area. The lakes exist high in the mountains and are fed by springs, as there is almost no rain in this area.
Guanaco, a member of the llama family, is the dominant mammal in this area. We were told that they are also a relative of the camel. They kept a watchful eye on us, but did not appear fearful of humans. Their tall necks are helpful to keep a lookout for puma, their predator.
Many of the lakes in the Atacama Desert are ringed with white salt and minerals because of the evaporation in the dry air and intense sun.
That is not a cloud peeking above the ridge line. It is smoke and steam from an active volcano, and the ridge line is the crest of the crater. At one point, we counted 30 volcanos in view from the same spot, although all but a few are dormant.

The Architecture of Villa Balbianello

2011-09-04T02:56:00.003-07:00

The Villa Balbinello is our favorite villa at Lake Como. We enjoy its dramatic setting, as should be apparent from this week's photos above and below. We have a large oil painting of the above scene in the library of our house in Scottsdale, so we are reminded of the Villa Balbianello each day.
The villa and its gardens and terraces straddle the tip of a peninsula that protrudes into the lake, which gives views in three directions up, down and across the Lake Como.
The two towers at the right remain from an old Franciscan monestary. The villa was built for a Cardinal in the 1700's. It later fell into disrepair, was restored by an American in the early 1900's, and was owned by Italian department store heir and world explorer Guido Monzino form 1974 until he passed away in 1988. He furnished the mansion with mementos from his travels and explorations and left the property to a foundation that provides tours.
It should be no surprise that the gardens of the villa have been used as a location for several movies, including Casino Royale, Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and A Month by the Lake.

The Grounds of Villa D'Este on Lake Como

2011-08-28T02:56:00.009-07:00

The gardens of the Villa d'Este Hotel at Lake Como are elegant. They retain their Renaissance features and architecture. And they can be enjoyed even if you go to the hotel for lunch, like we did, without spending the 750 Euros per night to stay at the hotel.
Villa d'Este was built in the 1500's on the grounds of a convent. It has gone through several conversions during the centuries and has been a luxury hotel since the 1870's. The top three photos in this series show the water cascading down the hillside from the classical statue.
On a warm day the cool water and shade of the tree-lined hillside fountain provides a pleasant stroll, with commanding views of the large villa, Lake Como, and surrounding mountains.
There is classical statuary in the garden. Villa d'Este has been ranked as the best hotel in the world in some surveys.

This shows the overall scene of the features in my series today, with the statues around the formal gardens and the fountains cascading down the hill. Our friend, Marcia, travelled with our group of 13 people last summer who enjoyed a week in Bellagio on Lake Como follwoed by a week in Milan. We have travelled with Jim and Marcia to Peru, French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, Oaxaca, Mexico, and elsewhere.

This shows a closer view of one of the statues. I know someone in Phoenix who used to work for one of the Formula One racing teams. He told me that they stayed at Villa d'Este each year for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, outside of Milan. I said "that must be an hour or so away." And he replied, "But we wouldn't drive there. We took a helicopter back and forth." Why, of course.

The Architecture of Chicago

2011-08-21T02:56:00.007-07:00

Chicago is knows for its pioneering urban architecture a century ago, and it has continued the tradition with its modern buildings. This a a view of the wavy exterior of a high rise apartment or condo building a few blocks south of the Chicago River and a few blocks from the Lake. Perhaps the architect was influenced by Barcelona's Gaudi in the wave lines of the balcony.
The "Magnificent Mile" of Michigan Avenue is considered by some to be the best shopping street in the country. (Unlike 5th Avenue in New York, it has a Nieman Marcus.) The planters with flowers add to its pedestrian appeal.
The new Trump Tower on the Chicago River is a gleaming addition to the skyline, with the classic Wrigley Building beside it. The Trump Tower replaced the ugly, undistinguished Sun Times office building.
If you know Chicago, you know that this is sunrise, not sunset, as the view out to Navy Pier looks eastward. My husband, Dave, had business meetings at a hotel nearby and he left a little early with a cameral in his brief case so he could take a few photos in case there was a sunrise.
Nighttime along Michigan Avenue facing Millenium and Grant Park provided this scene. The blue is the top of one of the lighted fountains in Millenium Park that I showed in some past posts about Chicago. The sky glow of Chicago has illuminated the low clouds.
This is the registration desk in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel where Dave had his meetings. The unsung workers who clean and polish this floor make possible the reflection of the wavy blue back-lighting in the floor.

The Beauty of Atacama, Chile

2011-08-14T02:56:00.006-07:00

The Atacama Desert in Chile has the highest altitude geyser field on earth. We went high into the mountains to get there at sunrise, It was November and the morning temperature was -8 C, or about 15 F. The contrast of the steam against cold air, catching the morning light, was a dramatic effect to capture.
The Atacama desert has vast expanses of scrubby brush clinging to life, supporting groups of guanaco, a member of the llama family.
Some of the lakes have salt and mineral deposits lining their shores, like a border to highlight the dividing line between the lake and the shore.
I bought a fisheye lens before our trip to Chile last November. Only a fisheye or stitching photos together could capture the expanse of this vast landscape.
It is remarkable that animals can survive in this harsh desert, which is one of the driest places on earth. This is a rhea, a member of the ostrich family.

Lake Como and Bellagio

2011-08-07T02:56:00.006-07:00

Are you ready for some more photos from our stay in Bellagio last May? Lake Como has an excellent ferry and passenger boat service to shuttle residents and visitors among the many delightful towns that line the shores of the lake. We enjoyed relaxing at our hotel and watching the ferries and other boats gliding across the lake.
This is the view from the rooftop terrace of our hotel, the Hotel Metropole. We have stayed there twice and love its lakefront location. The rooftop terrace was perfect for our group of 13 friends who visited with us, as we would buy Proseco, wine, cheese, bread, and other treats from a local deli to have happy hour on the roof. Sometimes happy hour morphed into dinner. The bell tower in this photo belongs to the 12th Century church of San Giacomo.
A sunny Sunday afternoon was a perfect time for a group of kayakers to enjoy paddling past Bellagio on Lake Como.
This is the view from the gardens atop the Villa Serbelloni. The Villa is owned by the Rockefeller Foundation and is used as a retreat for visiting writers and scholars who can pursue their own independent studies and creativity there, but they eat dinner together, which I am sure provides intellectual and creative stimulation.
This was the entrance to a restaurant where we ate dinner one evening in Bellagio. With such natural beauty and charm, it is no wonder that Bellagio was chosen as the name for the casino in Las Vegas. Try as it might, the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars in Vegas cannot come close to the experience of the real Bellagio.
The Vegas casino has added to the allure of Bellagio, Italy. On our first visit there we talked with a clerk in a ceramics shop. It turned out that he was a young English lawyer. He had been to the Bellagio casino in Vegas and he and his girlfriend decided to see what the real Bellagio was like the preceding summer for a one week vacation. They liked it so much they decided to come back for the entire summer in Bellagio the following year. His girlfriend decided she could not go through with the idea of quitting her job for a summer in Bellagio. He decided to leave his girlfriend behind and came to Bellagio by himself, finding a job selling ceramics.

The Interior of the Palau de la Musica Catalana

2011-07-31T02:56:00.003-07:00

The architectural and decorative details of the Music Palace in Barcelona are stunning. It is colorful and ornate beyond description. It was built from 1905 - 08.
This is a view from the street looking up to the outside portico on the second floor. The colorful pillars and railings would make a delightful place to get some fresh air during intermission of a performance.
This is the ceiling of the balcony. It would be a shame if all of the colorful pillars and railings cause patrons to neglect to look at the ceiling.
No part of the Music Palace is too ordinary to be without decorative touches. It is possible to take tours of the building during the day. We went to a Flamenco performance there in the evening. I do not know if they allow photographs during the day. They allowed photos until the performance started in the evening.
The pipe organ, marble statues and columns, and colorful stained glass seem to evoke the design elements of a cathedral.

Gorgeous Villa Melzi on Lake Como

2011-07-24T02:56:00.008-07:00

This week we return to villa Melzi on the shores of Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy. As I mentioned in a previous post, the unusually cool Spring last year caused the azaleas to be on the cusp of blooming when we visited in late May, as you see in this photo.
The grounds of the Villa Melzi have some architectural remnants of an earlier structure.
The chapel on the grounds of the Villa Melzi is open to the public and contains charming features, such as this fresco.
Napoleon himself directed that this gondola be transported from Venice to the Villa Melzi. The Villa was built for the Vice President of Italy under Napoleon's rule. An ancestor of the prominent Melzi family of Milan was one of the students of Leonardo da Vinci.
This is part of the staircase at the entrance to the Villa Melzi. This building is not open to the public. There are several villas around Lake Como that are open, such as Villa Carlotta, Villa Balbianello, and Villa Monastero. Villa Melzi is a delight just to stoll its gardens and lakefront.

The Uniqueness of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain

2011-07-17T02:56:00.011-07:00

Las Ramblas is a pedestrian street in Barcelona that runs from the Plaza Catalunya to the port where the Christopher Columbis monument is located. It features lots of stalls selling flowers, souvenirs, produce, and more. The first photo shows some of the miniature flowers in one of the flower stalls.

This grouping of umbrellas and fans was part of the decoration of a Chinese Restaurant.
This dragon is part of the decor of the same Chinese restaurant. Las Ramblas is popular with both tourists and locals. I would think that this Chinese restaurant caters more to locals, as must tourists would want paella or tapas, not Chinese food, in Barcelona.
Las Ramblas is also known for its street performers. Entertainment is always available.
Here is one of the many flower stands. This one is even open at night.

There is a large fruit and vegetable market on Las Ramblas as well. Dave took this photo while I was picking out some fruit. My mother looks annoyed. Perhaps she wanted to be out looking at the street performers rather than picking out some fruit. We stayed in Barcelona for a week this past March. We stayed in an apartment just one block from Las Ramblas, so we enjoyed having it as part of our neighborhood.

The Streets of Chicago

2011-07-10T02:56:00.005-07:00

We return to Chicago again this week. Chicago is noted for its innovative architecuture from the beginning to the end of the 20th century. Although the older buildings have more ornate crowns, the newer buildings also have distinctive touches.
This is another view of the Millenium Park Fountain that I showed last week, with the back of the glass column in the foreground having changed from blue to green. The diamond in the background is the lighted outline of the roof of an office building.
A November visit to Chicago was accented with the colors of fallen leaves in a small park. Without a camera and a mission of taking photos, these details would likely be overlooked.
This is a night view of the new pedestrian bridge that connects Millenium Park with the Art Institute of Chicago, whose new addition is the glass building visible on the left.
This is a view of Millenium Park from across Michigan Avenue. One of the lighted columns of the fountain is visible. The color is the middle is the lighting on the Frank Gehry-designed bandshell used for outdoor concerts.
We will end this series the way be began -- with a view of a building's crown. This is the top of the Wrigley Building, with the new Trump building in the background. The Wrigley Building is a landmark on Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River, anchoring the south end of the Magnificent Mile., which some people consider the best shopping street in the country. Built in the 1920's for the headquarters of the Wrigley Chewing Gum Company, this was Chicago's first air conditioned office building.

The Fun of Chicago, Illinois

2011-07-03T02:56:00.005-07:00

This is different that the photos that we normally post of nature and foreign lands. This week, please join us for a fun weekend in Chicago, one of our favorite cities. This first photo is the ferris wheel on Navy Pier which juts into Lake Michigan from the heart of downtown.
Chicago is know for its architecture. Even seemingly anonymous apartment or office buildings, like this building across the street from our hotel, has charming details.
The fountain in front of Navy Pier welcomes visitors on a blustery November day. In warmer weather, this fountain attracts people, especially children, who find it inviting to take off their shoes and wade in the splashing water.
Even in November there are pockets of gardens in the heart of the city.
This is the new Trump building located where the ugly Sun Times building used to be located, on the river just a block from Michigan Avenue. The views down the river out to the Lake from this location must be spectacular.
Millenium Park has a fountain with giant lighted columns containing photos of people's faces that change several times every minute. Water pours out from the faces. The back side of one of the columns is the blue glow on the right of this photo, with the column at the other end of the fountain visible in the center.
I often post desert sunsets on my Scottsdale Daily Photo site, and Dave often posts Pacific sunsets on his Tamarindo, Costa Rica Daily Photo site, so here is a Chicago sunset from the lounge at the top of the John Hancock Building. Our good friend, Sharon of Phoenix Daily Photo, had a temporary job assignment in Chicago for several years and she lived next to the river on Wacker Drive between Michigan Avenue and the lake, with views from her corner apartment down to Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Field Museum, Navy Pier, the river, lake and more . We missed her in Arizona, but loved staying with her in Chicago.

The Details of Yosemite National Park

2011-06-26T02:56:00.005-07:00

National Parks such as Yosemite are known for their landmarks and grandeur, but they have subtle beauty as well. Here is a photo of a moss-covered boulder on the side of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. My husband and I like to experiment with river photos that blur the water to show its movement, an effect achieved by slowing the shutter speed to 1/15th or below.
This scene is part of the path through the forest on a hike to Mirror Lake. There is an excellent shuttle bus system to take visitors to the trailhead up the valley from the main visitor facilities.
No visit or group of photos of Yosemite would be complete without a view of Half Dome, 4,737 ft. (1,444 m.) above the valley floor. The changing light and variable clouds make it a challenging and enticing subject for photos in any weather.
This is the bark of a tree. It looks like a topographical map. One of the benefits of photography is how it makes us so much more observant and appreciative of the details of nature. Without a camera, we might hike right on past, scarcely noticing these details.
My husband and I visited Yosemite during the recent Memorial Day holiday week. Lupine and other wildflowers were in bloom, to the delight of the bees, who thankfully were more interested in the flowers than they were in us.

The Beauty of Villa Melzi

2011-06-19T02:56:00.005-07:00

The Villa Melzi is one of the villas whose gardens are open to visitors that makes Lake Como such an enchanting place to visit. This is the lakeside gazebo in the garden. The garden has many pathways, statues and a wide variety of plants.
The Villa itself is not open to the public, but the chapel is. This is a reflection shot inside the chapel.
This is the ceiling of the chapel. The Villa Melzi was built in 1808-1810 to be the summer residence of the Vice President of the Napoleonic Italian Republic. The villa was later used by visitors such as Franz Lizt, who composed some of his symphonies here. No wonder he found inspiration to compose beautiful music in such a location.
The gardens are full of surprises, including several rare Egyptian statues such as this one. The Villa Melzi is in Bellagio. It is a very short walk down a flower and tree-lined promenade from the main part of town to the Villa Gardens. A multi-day admission pass is perfect for a week's stay in Bellagio, allowing visits in both morning and late afternoon light.
We have visited Bellagio twice, both times in late May. That is a delightful time to visit, as the azaleas and rhododendrons should be in bloom. Last year, however, Spring was unusually cool, as you can see from the snow in the Alps up the lake. The cooler Spring caused us to be there just as the azaleas were starting to bloom, but before they were in full color, as you see in this photo. Another advantage of a May visit is that the hotel prices jump higher in June.

The Splendor of Yosemite National Park

2011-06-12T02:56:00.005-07:00

Dave and I visited Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains during the recent Memorial Day holiday. We saw bears about a half dozen times during our 5 days in the park. This mother bear was foraging for food with her two cubs. She did not seem to mind our taking photos of her, although we kept a safe distance and did not move towards her cubs.
Yosemite Valley has classic views of the granite walls carved by glaciers. This is half dome, viewed from the valley. The valley is where most vistors stay and visit, but it comprises only 1%of the land area of the park.
Yosemite has giant sequoia trees, which are the largest trees, by volume, on earth. It has deep pine and redwood forests as well, as you see in this photo.
These leaves were nestled near the base of a tree, ready to start the next generation. Of the 7,000 plant species in California, half are found in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and 20% grow within Yosemite National Park.
We went up to Glacier Point to get sunset photos, and this view of Half Dome was taken with a long exposure after sunset. Clouds formed around Half Dome intermittently, adding to is allure. Glacier Point is 3,200 ft (980 m) above the valley floor. Yosemite was set aside for preservation by an act of Congress in 1864, which served as a model for the law that created Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872.

The Magical Isla Borromeo

2011-06-05T02:56:00.006-07:00

The Borromeo Islands are located in Lake Maggiore, north of Milan. They have been owned by the Borromeo family since the 1500's and they are the site of spectacular villas on two of the the three islands. This is one of the white peacocks that stroll the gardens on Isola Bella.
This colorful bird is one of the inhabitants of the gardens in the villa on Isola Madre.
Two of the islands, Isola Bella and Isola Madre, have large villas that date to the 1600's. Isola Bella has very ornate gardens, a portion of which you see in this photo. The third island, Isola Pescatori, is a fishing village with about 200 residents, a few small hotels, and charming lakeside restaurants.
The formal gardens of the villa on Isola Bella have elaborate statuary. The islands are a short distance from the town of Stressa, and there are boats for hire to shuttle tourists among the islands.
The gardens have a wide variety of flowers. Even though the lakes are at the southern edge of the Alps, the climate supports more temperate varieties of plants.
This is part of the terraced gardens of the villa on Isola Bella. We did a one day side trip to the Borromeo Islands during our week in Bellagio on nearby Lake Como. Unfortunately, the day on which we had made the arrangements for our group of 13 to have a driver and to tour the islands with a local guide was a rainy day, as you can imagine how this garden terrace would burst with color on a sunny day. But if it did not rain, the gardens would not be so lush.

The Wildlife of Africa

2011-05-29T02:56:00.004-07:00

This week we return to sharing some more photos of wildlife in Tanzania, beginning with this eagle who was perched in a tree above a river where a bunch of hippos were frolicking.
If you were to guess where this scenery is, would you guess any place Africa? I didn't think so.
This was one of several female lions hanging out in a large tree. Our guide told us that there was certainly a male lion under the same tree, but the tall grasses obscured our view. And no, we did not walk up close to the tree to get a better look.
This mother and baby baboon were among a large group that scurried across the dirt road in the Serengeti.
We saw great herds of wildlife. We were int he Serengeti in February, the time of the annual migration of millions of wildebeast and hundreds of thousands of zebra. The herd of gazelles in this photo liked to stay together. Perhaps they think they will have safety in numbers.
The birds are colorful. His chest looks like a robin, but his wings and back are tropical.
This is the road down into the the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest caldera and the remnants of the volcano whose eruption created the Serengeti Plain. The wildlife in the crater does not need to migrate because there is water there all year.

The Beautiful Villa Balbianello

2011-05-22T02:56:00.004-07:00

Villa Balbianello clings to a peninsula jutting into the middle of Lake Como, Italy. Notice the umbrella-shaped tree on the patio. How do you think they keep the tree in that shape? The gardener has to climb a ladder up through the middle of the tree and then trim the tree from the top.
The Villa has beautiful gardens, with many statues, It is also possible to tour the inside of the Villa, which is kept just as it was when the last owner, Guido Monzino, passed away in 1988 and left the property to the National Trust of Italy.
The Villa Balbianello has views up and down Lake Como because of its location on the end of a peninsula sticking into the lake. The Villa was built in 1787 on the site of an old Franciscan monastery.
The gardens are terraced and cover the end of the peninsula as it extends down to the lake. The last owner, Buido Manzino, was the heir to a department store fortune. He lived in the Villa from 1974 - 1988 and filled it with his collections from his world travels and explorations.
The loggia in the middle of the upper part of the villa has ususual landscaping for its vines. Guido Manzino explored the North Pole, Mount Everest, and many other places. He was the first person to climb the north tower of Torres del Paine, Chile, which we have showed on this website in thepast. Sadly, he died of lung cancer at age 60, as he was a chain smoker.
Villa Balbianello was used tas the location for the place where James Bond recouperated from his injuries in Casino Royale and for a wedding scene in Star Wars II, Attack of the Clones. It was also used in filming A Month by the Lake. We spent a week by the lake in Bellagio last summer with 13 friends and family who joined us. I would love to spend a month at Lake Como some day, perhaps after we retire.

The Beauty of Easter Island

2011-05-15T02:56:00.004-07:00

This week we return to Easter Island, which we have shown a few times in recent months. There are hundreds of Moai statues at various places on the island. Each is unique.
Easter Island has only a few beaches, and this location is the only spot where the Moai are right on a beach. Most of the shoreline is rocky, as the island is volcanic.
Easter Island got its name because the first Europeans, Dutch, to land there arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722. All of the statues were standing at that time. When James Cook arrived in 1774, many of the statues had been toppled, and by the 1830's almost all of them had been tipped over by conflict among the local people.
As this photo shows, Easter Island has been largely deforested by sheep herding by a British and Chilean enterprises. They mistreated the local population and confined them to a small town for many years in the 19th and earth 20th centuries so that the rest of the island could be used by the sheep. Easter Island is volcanic, with three large craters and about 50 smaller ones, all on an island that is only 12 miles (18 km) and between 1 and 8 miles (1.5 to 12 km) wide.
The indigenous population of Easter Island is Polynesian in origin, having travelled to one of the most isolated spots on earth about 1,500 years ago, and having no contact with the outside world for centuries. There are some plants that are native to South America, however, so there is a mystery about how those plants could have arrived.
What better way to end a day than to seen the sunset behind a row of Moai statues, with the expanse of the Pacific in the background. The Polynesians were certainly the best explorers on earth for centuries, having reached tiny spots of land amidst a vast ocean, hundreds of years before Europeans ventured far from their shores.

A Boat Tour on Lake Como

2011-05-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

A boat trip down Lake Como passes quaint towns and elegant villas. This is the bell tower of the the church in the town of Ossuccio, just south of Lenno in the central part of the lake.
This is the boat landing for tours of Villa Balbianello, an elegant villa owned by an Italian department store heir before he donated it to a trust. It was built in the 1780's on the site of an old Franciscan monastery. It was used as the location for James Bond to recuperate in Casino Royale.
This is the traditional type of boat used by fishermen on Lake Como. They can spread a canvas across the top when needed for shelter.
No, this is not George Clooney's Lake Como villa. This villa on the shore of a secluded peninsula in the central lake belongs to Richard Branson.
This dog is enjoying his spot as the lookout on the front of this fishing boat.
One of the many charming towns that ring the shore of Lake Como. We loved Lake Como so much when we visited 7 or 8 years ago that we returned last summer with 13 friends and famly to spend a week. We visited some of the villas, cruised the lake, had a cooking lesson, a wine tasting, and did excursions to visit Lugano, Switzerland and Lake Maggiore.

The White Dove of the Desert: San Xavier del Bac

2011-05-01T02:56:00.004-07:00

San Xavier del Bac Mission, known as the White Dove of the Desert, located just south of Tucson, Arizona, is an architectural and historical gem. A mission at this site was founded by Father Eusebio in 1692. Father Kino founded missions in Arizona and Mexico similar to Father Serra in California. The tower on the right was never finished when the current church was built from 1783 - 1797.
The church is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona and some people consider it the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture. It is Baroque in style and constructed of stone and brick fired at relatively low temperatures and mortar made from lime. It has been damaged at times over the centuries by fire, earthquake. a lightening strike and vandals.
The church is located on the Tohono O'odham Nation. (I do not like to use the term "reservation.") Tohono O'odham means "desert people" in the O'odham language. I was lucky to visit during an evening celebration when the parishioners carried some of the relics of the church outside during a procession. It was inspirational to seen the spirit and devotion of the people.
There are 24,000 members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, living on four separate lands in Arizona. The were known as the Papago until the 1980's when they changed their official name to the name they used for themselves. Their basketry is exquisite. They are descendants of the ancient Hohokam culture.
Visitors are welcome at San Xavier del Bac. It is only 9 miles from Tucson and receives 200,000 visitors per year. It is owned and maintained by private, non-profit foundation. Its website gives more information about it.

The Aura of the Statues on the Beach

2011-04-24T02:56:00.005-07:00

On Easter Island there are hundreds of statues, called Moai, located at many places around the island. These are the Moai located at the beach at Taharoa on the northeast side of the Island. As you can see from this photo, the statues here are right on a sandy beach.
This close up photo of one of the moai shows the long fingers of his hand carved around the base of the statute.
There are only two beaches on Easter Island that are good for swimming. This is one of them. The rest of the coastline is rocky because the terrain is volcanic. Easter Island is only about 12 miles (18 km) long and 8 miles (12 km) wide at its widest spot, and it is one of the most isolated inhabited places on earth, more than 2,000 miles (3,000 km) from Chile and 700 miles (1,050 km) from Pitcarin Island.

Each statue is unique. The faces are different. They apparently had different taste in hats.
Easter Island has lots of hiking trails past volcanos, statues, and wildflowers. There are not many trees because the island was deforested when it was used for sheep herding for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Diversity of Iceland

2011-04-17T02:56:00.003-07:00

Today we are showing another series from my brother's trip to Iceland. Here is an unusual formation of volcanic stone columns. There is a formation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California somewhat similar to this, called Devil's Post Pile.
Here is a free range horse. He looks like he has adapted to the rugged Icelandic weather.
Pristine streams slice through the tundra. The population density of Iceland must be the lowest in Europe. Ironically, Iceland is one of the few countries in Europe that my husband and I have not visited, yet it is the only country in Europe that my brother has visited.
The landscape of Iceland shows the effects of its volcanic activity.
The sweeping expanse of the Icelandic landscape is inspiring and refreshing. It is on Dave's and my list of places to visit. But, no, I don't think we would want to live there.

The Como Duomo

2011-04-10T02:56:00.006-07:00

Como is the main city on the shores of Lake Como, north of Milan, Italy. Today we are featuring its cathedral, or Duomo, begun in 1396. Although Como was settled in Roman times in 196 BC and has a many Romanesque churches from the 12th century, the Duomo is gothic.
This photo illustrates a common frustration with some Italian cathedrals. The city planners 500 years ago did not anticipate modern cameras and some of the piazzas in front of the cathedrals do not allow photographers to back up far enough to get the entire facade in the camera's view. I did not own a fish eye lens last summer, which would be needed for a full view.
This is a detail of the rose window in the front facade of the Duomo. The Como Duomo is not as large as the cathedrals of Milan, Florence or Rome. It is about the same size as the Duomo in Siena, which is my favorite cathedral. The statues on each side of the Rose window are Pliny the elder and Pliny the Younger, both natives of Como.
The colors of the marble catch the late afternoon sun and add a textured background for the exquisite architectural details.
The front facade of the cathedral has what I would describe as a false front, similar to the facades of wooden buildings on the main streets of old town in the American West. The facade is higher than the roof line, making the building look even larger than it is.
The facade includes statues, like other Gothic cathedrals in Italy. The Como Duomo was the last Gothic cathedral constructed in Italy, as its construction was begun 10 years after the start of the Milan cathedral, which has about 2,000 more statues on its exterior.
The interior of Italian and Spanish cathedrals and churches have unique beauty. My husband and I rarely pass a church in Europe without going inside so see what unfolds. The Como Duomo does not disappoint.
This is one of the pillars on the interior of the cathedral, with a splash of colored light filtered through the rose window.
The top of the Duomo is so fanciful that it looks like it could be the inspiration for Disneyland.

The Serenity of Sedona's Red Rock and Rushing Water

2011-04-03T02:56:00.006-07:00

A scene like this is not what you think of when you think of Arizona. Oak Creek flows year round, about an half hour south of Flagstaff. It carved Oak Creek Canyon, which opens to the red rock formations of Sedona. I went out early in the morning so I could take this photo in low light and at a slow shutter speed (1/15th of a second) so that the water would blur into ribbons to show its movement.
This is a classic scene of Sedona. Cathedral Rock is catching the late afternoon sun. I took this photo in Red Rock Crossing State Park.
It is hard to imagine that the small Oak Creek could carve the limestone walls of Oak Creek Canyon. Schnebly Hill Road is a gravel road that goes up the sides of the canyon to the rim and allows superb views of the canyon, such as this photo.
Oak Creek cascades through rapids and pools for about 20 miles (30 km), with steep canyon walls on each side. It is popular for fishing, and for walking, relaxing in the shade and listening to the soothing sounds of the creek as an escape from the desert heat. There are bed and breakfast lodges, cabins and small resorts up the canyon that provide charming places to stay.
The red rock walls of Oak Creek canyon have color, shape, and texture.
The red color is due to iron oxide in the limestone that turns red, similar to rust, when exposed to the air and water. The distinctive color is sometimes called "Sedona red" in Arizona and has been adopted as the color of the uniforms of the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team.
A visit to Sedona deserves to end with a sunset. Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon is one of our favorite places. We are taking my mother there for a birthday weekend soon, as it is a milestone birthday for her.

Kaleidoscope Scenes from Norway

2011-03-27T02:56:00.005-07:00

We sailed up Oslo Fjord on a Saturday morning and were surprised, and delighted, to see that we were sailing through a regatta. There were sailboats in every direction, as far as the eye could see.
This is a look down at the architecture of Bergen's old wharf buildings built 900 years ago when Bergen was one of the principal seaports of the Hanseatic League are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is a Norwegian traffic jam. Those warm Scandinavian sweaters have to come from somewhere.
This is the Hanseatic wharf of the Bergen harbor. Sadly, the old buildings on the other side of the harbor were destroyed when a German ship containing a lot of ammunition exploded in the harbor, where it was not supposed be docked. If you look very closely, you will see the tips of a roof that peaks above the old waterfront buildings on the left side of this photo. That is the modern Raddison hotel where we stayed. Some of the banquet rooms were in the upper floors of the old waterfront buildings. Thank goodness they did not build a taller, modern building.
My husband took this photo of me gazing at a frozen mountain lake during a blizzard -- in June! We had lunch nearby at a lodge that is used for summer ski training, high in the mountains.
The fjord country of Norway is a kaleidoscope of green meadows and forests and blue sky and lakes.
The lakes and countryside of Norway are clean and refreshing. It was cloudy most of the time we were there. (The scenery does not get this green without rain.) But we had a sunny day of blue skies before we left, thank goodness. It is tough to plan a trip in places that get rain. You want to travel to a see a lot of different places, but also to leave enough time to enjoy places even if there is a day of cloudy, rainy weather.

The Wow Factor of Patagonia

2011-03-20T02:56:00.006-07:00

People liked the photos from Torres del Paine National Park that we posted two weeks ago, so here are some more. This is a wider shot from our room at the Explora Patagonia Lodge.
In our posts 2 weeks ago I talked about the benefit of staying right inside the park so that we can see the scenery in a variety of lighting conditions. This is a long exposure taken at night, with the moon over the massif.
The weather changes rapidly and often near the southern tip of South America. The contrast between the late afternoon sunlight and the dark, foreboding clouds drew me and my tripod outside like a magnet. This walkway outside the lodge was a little loop trail to offer vista points to photograph or simply admire the scenery of mountains, lakes, meadows and clouds.
This is the same walkway that I showed in the preceding photo, taken from our room.
This waterfall cascaded right next to our lodge. The blurred effect of the water is achieved whenever you shoot at a shutter speed slower than 1/15 of a second. Early morning or late afternoon is the only time to get such photos (unless the spot is shaded in a dense forest) because there is too much light for a slow exposure during the bright part of the day. (I prefer taking such photos in the late afternoon rather than early morning, for obvious reasons.)
We enjoyed each of our hikes during our visit to Patagonia over the holidays a couple of months ago. Herds of guanacos allowed us to observe them, as they observed us. Several of the herd would serve as sentries, looking out for puma, as the rest could relax, eat and frolic.

Villa D'Este on Lake Como

2011-03-13T02:56:00.005-07:00

This is one of the two main buildings of Villa d' Este, a grand, palacial hotel on the shores of Lake Como. It is one of the world's most elegant and expensive hotels, with rooms starting at about 700 Euros per night. The hotel is noted for is Renaissance gardens.
We had lunch outdoors on the lakefront plaza of the hotel, along with a group of 13 friends who visited Lake Como with us last May. This flower arrangement was at the center of our table.
The interior of Villa d' Este is elegant. It was built as a summer residence of the Cardinal of Como in 1565. It is located in Cernobbio, as small town about 10 km (6 miles) up the lake from Como.
After the Cardinal for whom the palatial villa was built died, the villa was used as a Jesuit retreat center, and then changed hands and was owned by a number of wealth European families.
The gardens of the Villa d' Este are delightful to walk around, and the interior of the Villa has quiet places for relaxation, such as this alcove at the end of a hallway.

The Majestic Mountains of Patagonia

2011-03-06T02:56:00.008-07:00

Torres del Paine National Park near the souther tip of Chile is indescribable. These phot0s will not do it justice. This photo shows a waterfall connecting two glacier-fed lakes, with one of the massive mountains providing a dramatic, scenic backdrop.
My husband and I spent this past Christmas holiday season at the Explora Patagonia Lodge. I took this photo from our hotel room. The lighting and clouds changed so dramatically that I set my tripod up next to the window in our room so I could capture the scene in different light. The horns and towers of the mountains that give Torres del Paine its name are visible.
This is also part of the view from our room at the Explora Lodge. The lakes have an acqua-green color to them because of the mineral content of the water that melts from the glaciers that are the source of water for the lakes.
A family of foxes had their den under the lodge, so we enjoyed watching the cubs frolic around, and their mother watch over them.
Here is another view from our room. My husband and I think it is worth the extra money to stay in a place like the Explora Patagonia Lodge so we can enjoy the view at sunrise, sunset, and other times, rather than staying outside the park and driving during the day, but not experiencing the variety of lighting and cloud conditions.
The concept of Explora Lodges is that they take you our each day on your choice of activities. The hikes in Patagonia gave many opportunities to observe wildlife, including many guanaco, a member of the llama family. They are a relative of the camel.

The Splendor of Bellagio and Varenna, Italy

2011-02-27T02:56:00.006-07:00

This week we offer a return visit to Bellagio and Varenna, Italy, on the shores of Lake Como north of Milan. The pastel colors of the buildings add to the charm and provide a serene backdrop for this photo taken in the piazza next to the small cathedral in Bellagio.
It is fun to visit the different towns along Lake Como, which are conveniently reached by a network of ferries and passenger boats. This is the view of the approach by boat to Varenna, just across Lake Como from Bellagio. Just below the church bell tower in the center of this photo is the Villa Cipressi, and to the right along the lake front is the beginning of the gardens of the Villa Monastero, both of which we have featured on this site previously.
This is a typical street scene in Varenna. Like other towns along Lake Como, it has many "streets" that are for pedestrians. It is charming to stroll, shop, enjoy a meal, wine, or gelato.
The buildings have delightful architectural details, adding to a sense of discovery in every nook and cranny.
This is the roofline of the Grand Hotel Serbelloni in Bellagio. It is an elegant hotel where we had a gourmet dinner on our last night in Bellagio.
This "street" in Bellagio, named the Salita Serbelloni, extended from our lake front hotel up into the town. The one couple in our group who did not have a lakefront view had a view up this street from their hotel window. My husband went out to get an early morning photo, before the street filled with afternoon shoppers.
This is the view across Lake Como from our dinner table at the Grand Hotel Serbelloni. The lights across the lake is the town of Tremezzo, where the Villa Carlotta is located. This photo illustrates that Lake Como is beautiful in every weather, clear or cloudy.
This is the view from the roof top terrace of the Hotel Metropole, where we have stayed twice. The ferry landing stop for Bellagio is at the center of the photo. Lake Como is a glacier carved lake, with steep hills and mountains plunging into the lake. It is no wonder that this has been a favorite location for centuries for wealthy people to build villas and for the rest of us to visit.

The Statues of Easter Island

2011-02-20T02:56:00.006-07:00

Easter Island is unique. There are more than 500 of these moai statues at various locations around this small, isolated island. Each statue is different. All had been toppled and some of them have been set back up, but many more are still lying down.
This is part of what are called the 15 moai an Tongariki Beach. Like most moai, they are lined up on a platform called an ahu. Archeologists believe that the moai are images of deceased rules and gods and were carved to channel their powers to bring success in battle and prosperity in peace time.
My husband and I returned to this spot, Ahu Tahai, twice to watch the sunset providing a backdrop to the moai. The people of Easter Island are Polynesian, as proven by their language and DNA testing. Thor Heyerdahl was wrong in postulating that they arrived from Peru, although their stone carving skill does look remarkably similar to the skill of Inca stone carvers visible today around Cuzco, Peru.

Easter Island has 4,500 people and 6.500 horses, most of them roaming free. The history of the indigenous population of Easter Island is tragic. They arrived from the west in about 400AD. They had no contact with the outside world for about 700 years. After Europeans arrived, many of the men were taken away to work as slaves in guano mines in Peru. When returned, they brought diseases to the island and the population was reduced to about 100.
The setting of the moai competes with the moai for the enjoyment and contemplation of visitors. .

This is a photo of the Rapa Nui Lodge where we stayed, one of the Explora Lodges in Chile. It looks like a space ship perched on the hillside overlooking the ocean. It is pricey, but spectacular. The concept of Explora Lodges is that they provide a total experience, not just a place to stay. Included in the all-inclusive price is a staff of guides who take you out each day for whatever activities you want to do, which can be hiking, sightseeing, photo stops at the moai, snorkeling, etc. The gourmet food and the opportunities to meet and become friends with other travelers adds to the enjoyment.

Tourism is the main contributor to the economy. For much of the 20th century, most of the island was leased to a British, then a Chilean company that confined the islanders to a tiny village so that the rest of the island could be used for sheep grazing. With this history, some islanders are justifiably concerned to ensure that tourism benefits the local people.

A Walk Through Villa Melzi Gardens

2011-02-13T02:56:00.004-07:00

Come take a stroll with us through the gardens of the Villa Melzi in Bellagio, Italy, on the shores of Lake Como.
We visited Bellagio about 7 years ago and loved it so much that last May we brought 13 friends (including my mother) back to Bellagio last May. May is a perfect time to visit, as the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom, and the hotel prices are lower than the summer peak season.
I liked the play of light highlighting the colors and shapes of these red leaves against the blue sky. Lake Como has elegant villas lining the shores. A few are open to the public on the inside, but many more have delightful gardens that can be toured.
Usually people look down when touring gardens. At times, the visual treats are also overhead, as in the leaves in my previous photo and the sun star piercing the tree in the photo above.
The Villa Melzi was built during the reign of Napoleon by a Duke who was the Vice President of Italy during Napoleon's reign. The mansion is classical and the gardens are English in design.
My husband took this photo of one of the fountains in front of the mansion at Villa Melzi. The mountain that you see is across Lake Como. Several weeks ago I posted a series of photos of the Villa Monastero across Lake Como on a very cloudy and overcast day. As you can see in this photo, the weather on the day we visited Villa Melzi could not have been better. After our morning walk in the Villa Melzi gardens, we took the slow boat from Bellagio all the way down to Como, stopping for lunch at the Villa d' Este, one of Europe's grand hotels, for a perfect day.

The Architecture of England

2011-02-06T02:56:00.008-07:00

This photo shows one of the clock towers on St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The architecture of London is charming to those of us from the USA, although Prince Charles is a prominent critic of the city's post-war 20th century modern architectural style, or lack of style.
The Tower Bridge is a landmark recognized around the world as a symbol of the city.
A walk through the streets of London leads to countless grand and ornate facades, reflecting the pomp and wealth of British history, culture and economy.
A walk thought the streets of London yields countless surprises, such as this gargoyle standing guard on a balcony.
This is a view down the street to the front of St. Paul's Cathedral. On the left you can see an example of the 20th century architectural style that Prince Charles has criticized. Do you remember the scene of Prince Charles and Princess Diana walking out of St. Paul to the waiting carriage after their wedding? In the front of St. Paul's is a chapel that contains a book inscribed with the name of every American who perished in the defense of Britain in World War II. For those with a relative who perished in the battle of Britain, then will open the glass case and open the book to the page showing the relative's name.

Jambo from Tanzania

2011-01-30T02:56:00.007-07:00

These elephants know how to find some shade to avoid the afternoon sun.
Cape buffalo are curious about us, or our camera. They can be mean, and some of them seem to stand guard for the rest of the herd. They can defend themselves successfully against predators, even lions, unless they are very young or very old.
The beaded jewelry of the Maasi is beautiful. I once bought the earrings that a woman was wearing, and our vehicle was quickly swarmed by other women offering their earrings for sale.
We visited a school of adorable children. My husband and I brought 60 cans of Play-doh, reams of paper, construction paper, scissors, glue, Etch-a-Sketches, and other supplies. Our tour director brought a new desk. The children were so eager to learn and friendly.

When elephants get old and lose their last set of teeth, they leave the herd and stay behind where the softest grass is located, until they finally die from the inability to chew and eat the enormous amount of feed that elephants need.

The Architecture of Sweden

2011-01-23T02:56:00.007-07:00

The joys for Americans visiting European capitals include the architecture, history, and statues. This statue in the old town of Stockholm memorializes Birger Jari, the mythical founder of the city. Both my husband and I have Scandinavian heritage, and we really enjoyed our trip there several years ago.
The old town of Stockholm is called the Gamla Stan. It sits on a series of islands, and Stockholm is located in an archipelago of islands, canals, and bays.
The late afternoon glow illuminates the statue of Axel Osenstierna in front of the Riddarhuset in the old town area of Stockholm. Osentierna was a leading Swedish statesman in the 1600's. The building is the Swedish House of Nobility, which in the past was the equivalent of the British House of Lords, but is today a private institution that maintains records and traditions of the nobility. Ironically, the building was designed by a French architect who was killed by a nobleman, and the architect's son finished the building.
The changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Stockholm was a wonderful ceremony, complete with a military band. The three crowns on their drums is the national emblem of Sweden. My husband especially loved the changing of the guard because he is from St. Louis, Missouri and one of the songs played by the military band was the St. Louis Blues.
Scandinavian architecture uses a lot of wood, not surprisingly. This country church appears to be made of pine, judging from the many knots in the wood.
The buildings in the old town of Stockholm are built on wooden pilings. If the pilings become exposed to the air, the wood will rot. The do maintenance work to keep the pilings in the water, as the salinity content of the water keeps the wood preserved.

The Beauty of Villa Monastero on Lake Como

2011-01-16T02:56:00.010-07:00

This shows the grounds of the Villa Monastero, looking towards Varenna. The building on the left is Villa Cipressi, which is now a hotel. The Varenna church tower is just to the right of it. The entrance to the Villa Monastero gardens is the building on the hillside in the center of the photo.
The gardens have delightful architectural features, in addition to the trees, plants and flowers. The villa began as a monastery in 1208. It was no longer used as a monastery and sold in 1569. It was in private ownership over the centuries and is now a conference center. Nobel Laureate physicist Enrico Fermi used the villa for conferences.
If you compare this photo with the top photo you can see how extensive the gardens are. This gazebo is at the far end of the gardens looking back to the same entrance shown in the first photo.
The garden paths along Lake Como provide moments of relaxation and reflection.
The iron work on the railings are silhouetted against magical Lake Como, one of our favorite places.
This is the fixture above the walk-in bathtub in the Villa bathroom. The villa is open for public visitors, except when the meeting rooms are being used for conferences. This bathroom fixture was added in the period of 1897 - 1912. The heating elements were made in Germany. It was called the "King Faruk Bathroom" because it had what they considered to be Oriental decorative touches.

The gardens are accented by neoclassical statuary and architecture. We were there last summer on a day that was overcast and hazy. But Dave and I think that there is no such thing as a bad day on Lake Como. On clear days, the lakes, gardens and mountains are glorious. On cloudy or hazy days, the mood is mystical. On rainy days, well, the rain is needed to keep the countryside green and the gardens blooming. It is no wonder that we have a painting of the loggia, gardens and mansion of Villa Monastero hanging above a window of our home in Arizona.

Iceland

2011-01-09T02:56:00.006-07:00

This week we are showing photos of Iceland. We are breaking with precedent, and for the first time we are showing photos not taken by my husband or me, because we have not been to Iceland. My brother went to Iceland, and since so few people have been there we thought we would share his photos, like this one of the back side of a waterfall.
People do not go to Iceland for its architecture, beaches or amusement parks. Its scenery is the attraction, and this photo shows why.
Iceland has lots of geothermal activity, and the country has harnessed the energy from within the earth to supply power and heat. That is a good thing, as Iceland is obviously cold the buildings need to be heated.
Oddly, I have been to many countries in Europe, but not Iceland. My brother has been to one country in Europe -- Iceland.
This is photo in the desolate Icelandic tundra.
What would Iceland be without ice? My brother and I have lived in Arizona our entire lives, so going to a place of snow and ice is very exotic to us.
This lighthouse photo resembles the scenery that one might expect to see in Maine or Nova Scotia.

The Style of Sweden

2011-01-02T02:56:00.003-07:00

This curious statue of a hand is next to the Royal Palace.
In the lake country of southern Sweden we stayed at an Inn and enjoyed a demonstration of Swedish folk dancing by some of the people in the town, including this young girl.
This is part of the lobby of the Inn where we stayed in the lake country of Southern Sweden, about halfway from Stockholm to Copenhagen.
The old town of Stockholm, called gamla stan, is a charming area of narrow pedestrian streets, cafes and shops, and old public buildings such as churches and the Royal Palace.
The architecture of Stockholm is impressive. This busy collection of spires, patterned brickwork, tapered shapes, a statutes carries the eye skyward.

Holidays in Santa Fe

2010-12-26T02:56:00.004-07:00

For the holidays, here are some photos of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The photo above is the entrance to the Inn and Spa at Loretto, a boutique hotel next door to the Loretto Chapel where my husband and I stayed last November. You can see the luminarias set up along the roofline, along with a dusting of snow.
Santa Fe has lots of art galleries, most of which feature a native Amerian or Western theme. This is the sculpture garden at the entrance to one of the galleries.
Santa Fe is at 7,200 ft (2,134 m.) elevation, which explains why it gets gentle dustings of snow in the winter. This photo shows the snow melting delicately from a flower, as the bright Southwestern sun melts most snowfalls by midday.
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is bathed in the floodlights at night. There has been a church on this site since 1626, although the current church dates to the late 1800's. This was built in a Romanesque Revival style.
This is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, wiht a dog or a wolf, in front of the Basilica. The Rose Window above the cathedral door is visible in the background.
Right next to the cathedral is Cathedral Park, with statues and memorials, including this memorial to the original settlers of Santa Fe.
This statue is next to the entrance to the parking lot at the Inn at Loretto. We usually stay either here or at the La Fonda Hotel, which is across from the Plaza. The Inn at Loretto is about a block farther away.

Dubrovnik, on the Dalmation Coast

2010-12-19T02:56:00.006-07:00

Dubrovnik is a charming, walled city. This is the main street at night. It is called the Stradun or Placa. It was paved in 1468. The tower in the distance is the Franciscan Monastery, which dates to 1317.
This is a view of the Placa from the other direction, with the Franciscan Monastery on the left. This photo was taken from the town wall, and it shows the length of the old, walled city.
This view is the same as the first photo above, but during the day. The Placa is lined with cafes that are a meeting place for locals and an enjoyable resting spot for tourists. The Placa is much wider than most of the old pedestrian streets of Dubrovnik because it was constructed by filling in a marshy drainage channel that divided the town in the 1100's.
Another view of the Placa and the Franciscan Monastery at night. The Franciscan Monastery was constructed beginning in 1317, although it was reconstructed following a 1667 earthquake. It contains a pharmacy that has been in operation since 1317.
A view of the old town shows new tile roofs, evidence of the reconstruction by UNESCO and the European Union beginning in 1885 to repair the physical damage from the tragic shelling of Dubrovnik during 1991 - 1992, when more than 2,000 bombs and missiles fell in Dubrovnik during the conflict that followed the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. In my office in Phoenix, Arizona, we have two delightful employees, a mother and a daughter, who fled this region during the war and resettled in the USA.
This narrow alleyway is part of the restaurant row that fills with people during lunch and dinner.
We stayed on a small cruise ship during our tour of the Dalmatian Coast, but fortunately it did not leave Dubrovnik until late in the evening. This allowed time to savor the nighttime atmosphere of the old city. Its harbor is well fortified from the Middle Ages, as this photo shows.
Dubrovnik was ruled by Venice from 1205 to 1358, and this building, the Sponza Palace, was built during that period and shows the influence of Venetian architecture. It carries the inscription in stone, in Latin, meaning "Falsifying and cheating with the weights is forbidden. While I am weighing the goods, God is measuring me." Dubrovnik became an independent nation in 1382 and was naval power, with more than 500 ships in its fleet.

The Beauty and Art of Norway

2010-12-12T02:56:00.003-07:00

We took the Flam Railway, descending 2,600 feet (800 meters) from the mountains to the fjord country, and what did we find at the bottom? The Queen Mary 2. It was a sight to behold, larger than the little buildings of the town. It was tricky to watch it turn around in the narrow fjord when it left the next morning. Fortunately, we did not see it again on our trip through the fjord country. The last thing we want when in a small, remote area is to be there on the same day as a giant cruise ship.
How could this tranquil, idyllic scene be the site of two horrific natural disasters? In 1905 and again in 1934 landslides from the mountains crashed into the fjord and created a tsunami that devastated the low lying areas of this village of Loen, Norway. 135 people perished in the two catastrophes. Our hotel the Hotel Alexandra, is on the right of this photo.
On the train from Oslo to Flam, we went through the Norwegian mountains, and even though we were there in June, there was plenty of snow, and ice remaining in this cold country.
This is one element of one of the the 212 sculptures of Gustav Vigeland located in Vigelandsparken. Vigeland began work on the park in 1924 and made the sculptures out of clay, while others carved the sculptures from stone to match his figures. No one person could have carved so many monumental works from stone.
The park was finished in 1950, 7 years after Vigeland's death. Six giant figures hold this fountain, surrounded by 20 additional groups of figures.
The 212 figures depict all stages of life, from this newborn child and mother through death. The column you see in the distance of this photo is a monolith 56 feet (17 meters) tall, containing 121 carved figures. This photo will hopefully give you an appreciation for the large scale of this sculpture park.

The Spirit of the Serengeti

2010-12-05T02:56:00.007-07:00

We loved seeing the annual migration of zebra in the Serengeti last February. This zebra walked right towards us.
This gazelle seemed as curious about us as we were of it.
While most people think of big game when they think of an African safari, the birds are equally majestic and diverse. These birds are called gray crowned cranes.
OK, not all African animals are majestic. These warthogs were plentiful, especially around mud holes. They seem to be the least appreciated of African mammals, as anyone who has seen The Lion King will agree.
This lone zebra seems to have lost his way. Serengeti in Swahili means "endless plain." This photo shows the appropriateness of that name. We loved the fact that we were there in February when the grasslands were green and golden. A few months later, everything will be dusty and brown.
Animals are not the only attraction that nature has to offer in Tanzania. The plant life is also exotic, as this close-up photo of a heliconia blossom shows. Note the tiny ant crawling on this plant.

The Mysteries of the Amazon and the Nazca Lines

2010-11-28T02:56:00.012-07:00

This is a demonstration of blow guns by Yagua Indians in the Peruvian Amazon down river from Iquitos. We hiked through this jungle to visit this village. These native Americans spoke their own language rather than Spanish. They would put some poison from a poison dart frog on the tip of a dart, then they can blow a dart to hit and paralyze a monkey to fall from a tree. Fortunately, with us they only demonstrated target practice.
A tapir came walking through our lodge. It looks like he wants to eat one of the huts.
This is a capybara, South America's largest rodent. He was not shy. He walked through the lodge where we ate lunch.
The Nazca Lines along the Pacific Coast of Peru, 4 hours sough of Lima, are amazing. They are giant figures, some of animal motifs and some geometric, made by uncovering the desert rocks to expose different colored stone. They were made between 400 and 650 A.D. This photo shows a hummingbird.
This is a spider in the Nazca Lines. There are about 70 of these figures. Some are 200 meters across in size. Some are lines that continue for miles. The only way to appreciate these figures is to fly over them in an airplane. They are barely visible on the ground, and certainly the shapes and patterns cannot be appreciated except from the air. This leaves most people to beleive that they were made for viewing by the gods of the Nazca culture.
This is our lunch break at a lodge in the jungle. Yes, it was hot and humid. My husband, Dave is on the left, and our good friend from Scottsdale, Tim, is on the right. He is an architect and artist, and we have a collection of his pen and ink sketches in our house. His work can be seen on the Leaf Dog Art website.
This photo shows the little motorcycle rickshaw vehicle that we used to portage across a narrow peninsula to catch a boat on the other side to continue boat journey into the Amazon. The Amazon around Iquitos, Peru has lots of fingers and tributaries. Traveling in the area involves a combination of boat trips on the river, portages across fingers of land, and hiking into the jungle.

The Beauty of Bellagio, Italy

2010-11-21T02:56:00.006-07:00

Bellagio, Italy, is one of our favorite places. The old Church of San Giacomo ws built in 1075 - 1125, although its altar is another 500 years older.
This is a view from our hotel past some of the other lakefront hotels north across Lake Como to the Alps. We brought a group of 13 friends to spend a week in Bellagio last May, which is a delightful time of year to visit. The sun and flowers of Spring are made more joyful by the remnants of winter snow in the mountains.
The town of Bellagio is a charming colection of pedestrian-only walkways, pastel colored buildings with red tile roofs, and views of Lake Como and the mountains down every street. This is the Salita Serbelloni. Our hotel was on the lakefront at the base of this street.
Fresh pasta, local wine, a sidewalk table. What could be better? I hope no one orders the "hamburger."
The architectural details add charm to every nook and cranny of the town.
This is the roofline of the hotel where we stayed, the Hotel Metropole. We stayed there abouot 5 or 6 years ago, and liked it so much we returned with a group of friends this past May. Everyone loved it. Another advantage of coming in May is that the prices jump higher in June, and May is when the azealas and rhododendrons for which the Lake Como area is famous are in full bloom.
Italians know how to dress up what would otherwise be plain windows to add a splash of color.

The Art of Budapest

2010-11-14T02:56:00.008-07:00

Budapest is one of Europe's great capitol cities. This is the top of the column in Holy Trinity Square in front of Matyas Church in the old town section of Buda. The column was carved in 1710-1713 to commemorate the victims of plagues in 1691 and 1709.
The tiles of Matyas Church have colorful, intricate geometric patterns. There has been a church on this site since the 1200's, however it was converted into a mosque in 1541 during the Turkish rule, and was destroyed when the Turks were defeated. It suffered more damage later and was rebuilt in the late 1800's.
Fisherman's Bastion is a decorative, pseudo-medieval structure on top of the Buda hill, overlooking the Danube and Pest. It was built as a memorial to fishermen, and a fish market used to be located in the area.
This shows more of the Fisherman's Bastion. The statue depicts St. Istvan, the King coronated in 1001 A.D. who introduced Christianity to Hungary.
Yes, Buda sits atop a high bluff over the Danube. This is the view down the cable car tracks. At the top of the photo is the river and the entrance to Chain Bridge, which links the downtown section of the Pest half of the city with the Buda side.
The altar and organ of St. Stephen's (or Istvan) Cathedral is classically ornate. It was built from 1851 - 1905. The time of construction was lengthened by the collapse of the original dome in 1867.
Szentendre is a small town on the Danube 20 km (12 miles) north of Budapest. It has been preserved as an old town, popular with artists. We bought some ceramics there that are now on our kitchen window sill that remind us of Hungary every time we stand at the kitchen sink.

Roman Ruins of Spain and Seville

2010-11-07T01:56:00.005-07:00

For Americans, we expect to see Roman ruins in Rome, of course, but overlook the bonus of discovery of Roman ruins in other parts of the Roman world throughout the greater Mediterannean. Merida, Spain has very well preserved Roman ruins, as this building shows.
This is instantly recognizable as the Greco-Roman archetecture of an ampitheater. It is unusual to find a double layer of the backdrop to the stage still standing, as is the case in Merida, Spain.
What would a Roman city be without an arena? Merida was the Roman headquarters for this region. It made a perfect stop on our drive from Lisbon to Madrid.
This is the view of the stage that would have greeted theater goers as they entered the ampitheater to take their seats.
Leaving the ancient Roman ruins in Merida, this is a view from about half way up the Giralda bell tower of the gigantic cathedral in Seville, or Sevilla, Spain. The cupula and room adornments of another part of the cathedral is visible in the foreground. Beyond on the left are the walls and courtyards of the Alcazar, the Royal Palace in Seville.

This is a view from the top of the Giralda tower down to the old part of Seville. The Giralda was originally a Moorish minaret, but it was converted into the bell tower when the grand mosque was converted into a cathedral after the Spanish defeated the Moors.

The Fjords of Norway

2010-10-31T02:56:00.004-07:00

The countryside of Norway is pristine and beautiful. This is a scene near Loen, Norway, in the fjord country. The homes, farms and villages are at lower elevations, near the water, because the Atlantic Ocean causes the temperatures to be warmer.
When we sailed into Oslo, we saw this sailing ship in Oslo Fjord.
The captain of one of the ferries we took in the fjords looked exactly what one would expect of a Norwegian ship captain.
This is a small, traditional church in the small town of Balestrand, which is located on Sognefjord. Scandinavian use of wood in construction is artistic and charming. The design of this church is reminiscent of the design of the ancient stave churches.
Sadly, there are very few stave churches remaining. They used to tear them down until they realized that they are n architectural treasure. This church is 800 years old. It is remarkable that a wooden structure would last that long. The design of the wood is intricate, although it is virtually impossible to photograph the interior because they lack windows and are very dark.
This photo is typical of the views of villages in the fjords. This photo was taken in Aurlandsfjord, a little west of the end of the fjord in Flam.
Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a seaport that was one of the towns of the old Hanseatic League. Half of the area around the harbor has old streets and buildings such as this photo. The other half of the harbor is surrounded by buildings built after World War II because a German ship loaded with munitions blew up and destroyed the buildings on the other side of the harbor. The new buildings lack the charm of what you see in this photo.

The Beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona

2010-10-24T02:56:00.012-07:00

This week we are taking you to a place close to home. Sedona, Arizona is 100 miles (160 km) north of Phoenix/Scottsdale and about 30 miles south of Flagstaff. It is a popular weekend and vacation spot. The rock formation above is Cathedral Rock, and in the late afternoon it seems to catch fire with the glow of the setting desert sun.
This is another view of Cathedral Rock from Red Rock Crossing State Park. Oak Creek is responsible for carving Oak Creek Canyon, which opens up to the red rocks of Sedona. This area has been used for filming Western movies.
This is the entrance to the Mi Amo Spa at the Enchantment Resort, our favorite place to stay in Sedona. From the treatment rooms at this spa, you look up at the red rocks of Boynton Canyon.
This is a view of the town of Sedona from the mesa atop which the small local airport sits. It provides an overview of the area and views in all directions. Many of the rock formations in Sedona have names. If you look closely at the right edge of the ridge in this photo, perhaps you can appreciate why it is called "Coffee Pot Rock."
This is Oak Creek, up river from Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon. Does this look like your mental image of Arizona? I didn't think so. Arizona is much more diverse than people realize. It is not all desert. In fact, the country's largest Ponderosa Pine forest is in the high country above Sedona.
You might be wondering, why are the mountains and rocks in Sedona red? They contain a very high iron content. When they are exposed to the rain, the outside of the rocks oxidize. That is the same process as rust. In Arizona, we call this color "Sedona red." Next time you see the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team on TV, you will notice that their uniforms are Sedona red.

I will close out this series with a Sedona sun set. How did Sedona get its name? Sedona was the name of the wife of the original settler of this area, and he named the town after her.

Montenegro

2010-10-17T02:56:00.016-07:00

Montenegro is blessed with the still waters of Europe's southermost fjord, which lead to the town of Kotor.
This is a closer view of an island in the Bay of Kotor. This long bay provides calm waters for the port of Kotor, Montenegro.
Sveti Stefan, or St. Stephan's, is an island that has now been connected to the coast of Montenegro by a causeway. There are no villagers left on the island. The entire village, dating to the 1500's, is now a resort hotel.
This is one of the small courtyards of Sveti Stefan, or St. Stephen. The last residents of the village left in the 1950's and the entire village has been converted into a luxury resort. This scene is typical of the former village buildings that are now luxury hotel units. Sveti Stefan is located just south of Budva on the coast of Montenegro.
These colorful icons decorate the inside of an Orthodox church in Kotor, Montenegro. We were lucky to be there as a rare ceremony occurred and we watched as the priests entered the sanctuary to the sounds of ancient chants.

The Island of Hvar off the Dalmation Coast

2010-10-10T02:56:00.016-07:00

The town of Hvar on Hvar Island has a classic Mediterranean seaside promenade, lined with palm trees and yachts catching the the afternoon sun that will later set over the Adriatic Sea.
From the Spanjola Fort, or Spanish Fort, we had a splendid view of the harbor and our cruise ship. We recommend a small cruise ship for a first visit to the Dalamatian coast, as the coast is very curvy, hilly, and has islands such as Hvar and Korcula that are certainly must-see destinations. A small cruise ship can reach these locations, and the large cruise ships that stop only in Dubrovnik will miss a lot.
This is a view of the interior of Hvar. The present population of Hvar is only a fraction of what it was 100 years ago. The soil is rocky and the land is steep. The primary crop is lavender, although wine is also produced locally. Most of the residents of this village have moved away to the town of Hvar, although they will return at times to the village church from which their families came for weddings and other special events. (One of the houses in this photo has no roof as you can see.)

We were told that the people whose families came from this town continue to play on a football (soccer) team, even though they no longer live together in the village. The name of the team is called the Lavenders. I am sure they play a lot tougher than their name.
This is a small seaside village that we reached by hiking down from the hills to the coast.
This is the main town square of Hvar, with the Cathedral of St. Stephen, built in the 1600's. On this square is one of the oldest theaters in Europe and the Venetian arsenal. During the height of the Venetian empire, each of its towns had an arsenal with an inventory of interchangeable parts for its ships so any Venetian ship could come into any Venetian port and be quickly repaired.

The Design Flair of Denmark

2010-10-03T02:56:00.007-07:00

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark is a world treasure, designed by man. It is a reflection of the Danish flair for design that in the center of a major city they would create a park, with restaurants, lakes, a concert hall, and amusement rides. This fountain in one of the lakes changed colors frequently, making water look like fire.
This was our hotel room at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel across from Tivoli Gardens. The city allowed a high rise hotel to be built downtown in exchange for stipulating that everything in the hotel, including the architectural features, furniture, and even the silverware must be a design by Arne Jacobsen, a famous Danish designer.
This is the wall above the bed, shown in the last photo, at night. With delightful surprises such as this, one is reluctant to turn out the lights.
This is the Stroget, which Copenhagen claims is the world's longest pedestrian shopping street. It is a popular place for shopping, walking, dining, and meeting friends, many of whom arrive by bicycle, as this photo shows.
This is the view of Tivoli from the same hotel room with the funky wall of lights that I showed above. One of the entrances to Tivoli is in the lower left.
This is a night time view of the entrance to Tivoli shown in the lower left of the previous photo.
The Palace Square is the site of the Amalienborg Palace, the winter home of the Royal Family, which is at the left of this photo. We had an unusual vantage point to take this photo. We took a large, overnight cruise ship ferry to Oslo, Norway, and we had this view from the top deck as we sailed out of Copenhagen.

The Art of London, England

2010-09-26T02:56:00.005-07:00

Some people, including Prince Charles, think that London lacks a cohesive architectural style of other European cities, such as Paris. But we think that London has some charming architectural details, as we will try to show you this week. Here is a dragon standing guard on the side of a building.
My guess is that architectural details such as this were built to convey a sense of strength and power for the occupants of the building.
This is a view of St. Paul's Cathedral from the river front in front of the Tate Modern Art Gallery at Bankside. The bridge is the Milennium Bridge, opened in 2000, a pedestrian bridge that links the Bankside area to the area near St. Paul's Cathedral.
This is Queen Anne's Statue standing in front of St. Paul's Cathedral. It is a copy made in 1886 of the original 1712 statue made by Francis Bird.
This is one of countless bridges in London, and they are decorated with elaborate railings, statues, and paint.
This is a view looking up the main dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Villa Monastero in Varenna

2010-09-19T02:56:00.009-07:00

Join us today for a walk along Lake Como in Varenna, Italy. This first picture was taken from Villa Monastero looking back towards the main part of Varenna. The Villa Ciprissi, which is now a hotel, is shown prominently, with its gardens cascading down towards the lake. The cathedral bell tower on the main square of the town is also visible. The mountains in the distance are across on the western shore of Lake Como.
Villa Monastero has enchanting gardens that line the eastern shore of Lake Como. Here is one of the pathways through the gardens along the lake.
The path along the lake features formal gardens and areas left with natural vegetation, such as this patch of lupine flowers. The gazebo in the distance is just one of the charming architectural features in the gardens on the Villa property.
The gardens feature neo-classical statuary.
The lakefront loggia of the Villa Monastero is such a delight that my husband and I bought a painting of this area of the villa during our first visit to Lake Como about 5 years ago. It hangs above a window in our living room. This summer we returned to Lake Como with 13 family and friends. This photo helps explain why we returned.
The gardens of the Villa have architectural features that cannot help but uplift and inspire the spirits of visitors, as this photo of my husband "hamming" it up shows. Villa Monastero is now used as a conference center, and tourists can visit the inside of the Villa to admire its furnishings as well as the gardens.
This is a view of the lakefront area of Villa Monastero, looking back towards Villa Ciprissi and Varenna. With these surroundings, it might be hard for people attending conferences as Villa Monastero to keep their mind on the subject of the conference. It would be easy to forget about the outside world and the pressures of life back home.

The Sculptured Look of Santa Fe

2010-09-12T02:56:00.005-07:00

My husband and I like to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, as we are interested in Native American and Spanish art and culture. We stayed at the Inn and Spa at Loretto last November, which is why there are luminarias set up on the pueblo architecture of the Inn.
This is the Palace of the Governors on the main square in Santa Fe, dating to the 1600's. Americans from the East Coast and the Midwest focus on the settlement of America from the 13 colonies, but overlook the settlement of New Mexico and California from Mexico. From this building, Spain and Mexico ruled New Mexico for longer than New Mexico has been part of the USA. One of American territorial Governors who ruled from this building in the late 1800's was Lew Wallace, who is best known as the author of Ben Hur. If you ask my husband, he will tell you all about Lew Wallace having been the Union General at the Battle of Monocacy outside of Frederick, Maryland, in 1864 during the Civil War.
Religious themes are an important element of Spanish colonial art and were an important element of the work of the missionaries who converted the indigenous population.
We had a light dusting of snow when we were in Santa Fe last November, which added a little outline to the architecture of the Inn at Loretto.
When we woke in the morning, this was the view of the hotel courtyard from our room. I liked the pattern of the flagstone walkway on which the snow did not stick when it landed on the lawn and trees.
The front entrance of the hotel leaves no doubt that you are arriving at an Inn in Santa Fe. You won't find any Chippendale or art deco furnishings in here.
The lighting of the hotel provides a warm and dramatic welcome after returning from one of the many excellent restaurants in Santa Fe.

The Birds, Bridge and Bats of Sydney

2010-09-05T02:56:00.012-07:00

This is an emu's foot. The emu and kangaroo are depicted on the coat of arms for Australia. We got this close up photo of emu's foot in the Sydney Zoo. I don't think we could have gotten this close in the wild. Emus are unique to Australia and are the second largest birds, behind the ostrich. The are 5 - 6 feet (1.5 - 1.9 m.) tall and can run 30 mph (50 km/h).
This is a brolgas in the Sydney Zoo. The are more than 4 feet (1.3 m) tall and have a wingspan of 7.5 feet (2.3 m).
I think this is an Ibis. We found him walking in the large city park containing the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Art Museum.
This is a view of the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. You can see people on the top and on the second level of the super structure. The Bridge Climb is an unforgettable experience. The lead guided walks to the top. You are attached to a safety cable the entire time. You have to wear a jump suit, and they do not allow you to bring your own camera with you for the walk up.
The patterns of cables and supports from the bridge offer a variety of geometric patterns across the 503 meters (1,650 ft) or roadway supported by the cables. The bridge was finished in 1932. The loans to pay for its construction were paid off in 1988. 16 of the 1,400 workers who built the bridge suffered fatal accidents.
This is a photo of the bridge taken from the Sydney Opera House, with a ferry in the foreground coming in to Circular Quay.
This amusement park is just across Sydney Harbor on the other side of the bridge from downtown Sydney.
There is a large park next to downtown Sydney that contains the Royal Botanical Gardens. When walking around, we looked up into the trees, and saw thousands of large bats, most of whom were sleeping, but some of them were fanning themselves to cool off in the warm summer (late December) day.
After we noticed the bats, it was fun to watch other tourists walking along when they happened to first look up into the trees and realize that they were full of large bats. We later had dinner at an outdoor restaurant on Woolloomooloo Wharf, across from the park, and we saw a large cloud of bats emerge from the park and fly across the skyline of the city. It looked like a scene from a horror movie.

The Remoteness of Aitutaki

2010-08-29T02:56:00.015-07:00

This is the inside of an irridescent clam on the ocean floor of an atoll in the Cook Islands. I like to snorkel in warm, tropical waters. My husband will tell you that I am good at spotting fish, or in this case, a clam, for him to photograph, and then it is Dave's role to take a deep breath, swim down and take a photo with his waterproof camera.
This is a photo of a brain coral anchored to the edge of the coral reef. The diversity and beauty of life in the South Pacific is dazzling, especially for someone like me who has lived her entire life in the Arizona desert.
The nooks and crannies of the coral reef provide shelter and protection for a colorful array of tropical fish. Snorkeling in the area of a coral reef is like swimming in an aquarium.
Sunlight is a critical element of the life of the coral reef. Many atolls are the remnants of volcanic islands that have sunk into the ocean, but the coral reefs grow up to the sunlight and remain close to the surface.
This is a triggerfish swimming along the sandy ocean floor. I don't know why, but tropical salt water fish are so much more colorful than fresh water fish.
The "land" on some of the Cook Island atolls is composed primarily of sand and shells. The Cook Islands are a New Zealand protectorate located west of Tahiti and the rest of French Polynesia.
If anyone is wondering how palm trees and other vegetation takes hold on the sandy atolls of the south Pacific, there is an answer. Coconuts float in the ocean, are washed up on the beach, and some of them will sprout a tree trunk and then grow roots in the sand.
Countless islands are so shallow that you can walk from one island to the next through the warm, clear water.
We saw these large whit birds nesting in the few trees on an uninhabited island. I think that this might be an albatross.

The Scenes in India

2010-08-22T02:56:00.008-07:00

The Oberoi Udaivillas Hotel in Udaipur, India is stunning. This swimming pool snakes around the resort so that lots of the rooms are pool side. During the time we stayed at this hotel, they were using it as the location for photographing swim suit models for a catalog. Sorry, guys, no photos of that posted here. Elizabeth Hurley was one of the models, and she was at the next table to us at breakfast. No photos of that, either.
I love the serene expressions and beauty of the people of India. They are so photogenic. This woman was on the holy site of Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon, outside Varanasi. Varanasi is not only the birthplace of Buddhism, but the holiest site of Hinduism.
Having a camera at the ready even when on a bus can pay dividends. I shot this photo in the crowded streets of Varanasi while stuck in traffic on a bus.
This woman was on the grounds of the Jagdish Mandir Temple in Udaipur. She served tea to visitors and worshipers.
This is a photo of one of the windows in the Hawa Mahal, the "Palace of the Winds," a pink building built in 1799 so that women of the harem could look out onto the street below, but people could not see them behind the veiled screens. The building is 5 stories tall, but only one room deep.
This woman is cooking flat bread at the Sikh Temple in Delhi as part of the preparation of food that charitably feeds 20,000 people every day. Personal guides escort visitors like us on a fascinating tour of the temple.
Jagdish Mandir Temple in Udaipur has intricate stone carvings covering its exterior. This temple was built in the 1600's and is just outside he main gate of the enormous City Palace complex.
This man greets visitors entering the Jagdir Mandish Temple. We typically give a gratuity to people who pose for us, and certainly did so with him. It is regrettable that his lack of sight may make it more of a challenge for him to appreciate how magnificently handsome he is. I hope that his loved ones give him that assurance.

Budapest's Architectural Elements

2010-08-15T02:56:00.014-07:00

Budapest has impressive architectural features. This emblem is part of a retaining wall on the bluff on the Buda side of Chain Bridge across the Danube.
This is one of the statues on the exterior of the Parliament building, one of the landmarks of the city. It was built from 1884 - 1902.
The Royal Palace, now the Hungarian National Gallery art museum, dominates the hillside of the Buda side of the river. Parts of the palace date back to the 1500's. It suffered damage during World War II.
The Hungarian Parliament was patterned after the British Houses of Parliament. It has a neo-gothic exterior.
The Exterior of St. Stephen's Cathedral is adorned with statues.
This is the dais in one of the chambers of the Hungarian Parliament. This is just one of the 691 rooms of the building. We highly recommend a tour of the inside of the Parliament building for anyone visiting Budapest. The architectural features are exquisite. The photo below is a view of part of the building, taken through the window of another part of the building.
The clocktower of St. Stephen's Basilica is a landmark on the Pest side of the river. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Hungarian Christian king, nearly 1,000 years ago.
This is a view of the Parliament Building taken from the bluff across the Danube. The building is 268 meters (880 ft) long and 96 meter (315 feet) high.

The Beauty of Papeete, Tahiti

2010-08-08T02:56:00.006-07:00

This is the sunset over the over-water bungalow where we stayed in Papeete, Tahiti. It was relaxing to hear the waves under our room and to be able to swim off of the porch of our bungalow at the Intercontinental Resort.
This is the view from our bungalow across to the island of Moorea. It was entertaining to watch the activity in the ocean, as people paddled and sailed back and forth all day. On the horizon of the water you can see the waved breaking on the coral reef that surrounds the island.
Lovely hibiscus flowers dropped from trees onto the grounds of the resort.
The pools on the resort grounds had turtles and fish. The resort even had a salt water lagoon where guests could snorkel and watch the fish and other sea creatures sheltered by a reef within the lagoon, without even going out into the ocean.
This is the sunset view of Moorea from our resort on Papeete. The views across the ocean to Moorea changed throughout the day, but sunset was obviously the favorite time of the day.
We took a cruise ship from Papeete to visit other islands in French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. This is the superstructure of the ship as we prepared to sail from Papeete.
Papeete is the largest town in French Polynesia. This is a view of Papeete from the balcony of our stateroom on the cruise ship as we sailed out of port. You can see the clouds hovering around the mountains in the center of the island, which is typical of the South Pacific, and the clouds were catching some of the colors of the setting sun.

The Architecture of Burano, Italy

2010-08-01T02:56:00.008-07:00

Burano is an island in the Venetian lagoon. In contrast to the opulence of Venice, Burano was a community where many fishermen lived. Its buildings are much more simple in design, although nevertheless quite charming.
Burano is known for its very colorful houses. One explanation is that the fishermen would paint their houses the same color as their wooden fishing boats. The photos also show that they hang a curtain in the doorway to provide some privacy, but to allow a cooling breeze through the house.
Burano is also known for lace. Apparently the women of the island became quite skillful at lace making while their husbands were out fishing. Lace is still sold today, although the handmade lace is challenged by the competition from imports from the Far East.
We never tire of walking the "streets" of Venice. I have been there 3 times and my husband has visited 5 times. We even took a group of 16 family and friends to Venice on our last trip there.
The architectural details of Burano and charming, even though they are plain in comparison to the ornate characteristics of the palazzos and grand buildings of the main part of Venice.
This shopkeeper's dog has a comfortable place for a nap while waiting for customers to select from among the samples of famous Venetian glass.

Up and Down at Chichen Itza Pyramids

2010-07-25T02:56:00.014-07:00

The 91 steps of El Castillo are so steep that people climb the steps leaning forward and using their hands as well as their feet, like giant ants. Some people have told us that they no longer allow visitors to climb the steps.
This is the view looking up the steps. The 91 steps mean that on the four sides there are 364 steps, plus the platform on top makes 365 to coincide with the days of the year.
This is the view from the top looking down the steps. This is one set of stairs it is important to watch your step going down, as serious injury or worse would be a certainty from a fall down these steps. Maybe that is why they no longer would not want people to climb up the stairs.
At the spring and fall equinoxes, the shadow cast by the edge of the Castillo forms the pattern of the back of a serpent on the side of the stairs, leading to the head of Quetzalcoatl, the serpent god, at the base of the stairs. Crowds gather to watch this masterful achievement of ancient architecture and astronomy.
At the Temple of the Skulls (Tzompantil), carved skulls commemorating the sacrificed are carved throughout the base of a large temple. When the temple was used, the skulls of the sacrificed were placed on stakes around the temple.
This is the temple at the north end of the ball court. The acoustics of the ball court are so good that a person talking in this temple could be heard at the opposite end, 443 feet away. This is the best preserved ball court in the Mayan world, but is only one of 9 ball courts at Chichen Itza. There is uncertainty and a debate whether it was the winning or losing team members who were sacrificed, but carvings show that players were sacrificed.

The Natural Wonders of the Big Island of Hawaii

2010-07-18T02:56:00.006-07:00

This is a rare lenticular cloud. It swirls around like a cyclone. When I took a sightseeing plane from Maui over the Big Island of Hawaii, we encountered this cloud and even our pilot was in awe, which reinforced that it was a special sight.
This is the coastline of the Big Island. You can visualize how centuries ago the lava flow met the ocean and formed the cliffs and coves that provide such delightful scenery.
On a helicopter flight taken when my mother and I were staying on the Big Island, we passed by close to the steam coming from the crater of an active volcano on Hawaii.
Here is a close look down to the edge of the crater. Obviously the only way to see such sights is from a helicopter. They are not cheap, but the sight is well worth the cost.
Lava flowing! Looking down on the lava fields provided multiple sights of flowing lava. In many cases the grey crust covered the lava, but in some places the molten hot lava underneath had broken through the hardened, crusty surface to expose the flowing, hot lava.
Here is a closer photo of the rim of the volcano. To me, it looks more like the moon than the earth.
We are back on the ground. After the adrenaline rush of the helicopter ride, we were ready for the serenity of the Hawaiian coast. The neighboring island of Maui is barely visible in the distance. The Hawaiian Islands were formed with the oldest islands to the northwest and the newest islands to the southeast. That would make the Big Island of Hawaii as the newest of the Hawaiian Islands, and, indeed it is still being formed by a volcano and has a lot of terrain that is still just lava fields.

Here is one more scene from the helicopter. The helicopter pilot flew up into a series of canyons where we could see the lush vegetation, sometimes with waterfalls cascading down the canyon walls.