Friday, July 31, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Clouds of La Mancha

Driving through La Mancha on the way from Toledo to Jaen, we passed a calvacade of windmills, all lined up and waiting for Don Quixote. I loved the way they looked up on the hill, under the lovely morning clouds. I especially like the doughnut shaped formation on the right!
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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Kremlin creations through red-tinted glasses





A few more shots from the Kremlin in Moscow. A bunch of buildings are squooshed together within the confines of the Kremlin Wall, without much thought to architectural compatibility. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't--in the second picture, for example, you can clearly see modern offices blocking the view to what should be a national architectural treasure.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Watery Wednesday: Pillars of Hercules

I've always been a great fan of mythology, so I was thrilled to visit the purported "Pillars of Hercules" in Tangiers. The view of the sea was beautiful, but I admit I had a hard time envisioning Hercules pulling this rock down. The top part of the opening is supposed to look like Africa (upside down). What do you think?
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Monday, July 27, 2009

Backstage in Brugges



Brugges is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in Belgium. The whole town seems supsended in time, yet alive, almost like a living museum. I believe most people focus on the fabulous facades there, but I really loved these old houses we found when we moved to less crowded areas.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Scenic Sunday: Show me the way

If I were a sailor returning home after months at sea, I believe I would find this lighthouse in Tangiers a most welcome sight. Even from the safety of the shore, I found this view pretty spectacular.
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Friday, July 24, 2009

Parked in Berlin

While I was visiting fellow bloggers today, I came across several wonderfully peaceful shots of benches. Not sure if this is a meme going around or a coincidence, but it made me want to post this photo I took of two locals on a bench in Berlin. It looks like they're enjoying the lovely view on a quiet Sunday but they're actually gazing across to what was at the time East Berlin.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Red Sky at Night, What a Delight

Our last night in Venice, we were very tired (and freezing), and quite tempted to hightail it back to our hotel and a warm restaurant. But sanity prevailed and we took a vaporetto over to the tiny island of San Giorgio Maggiore and climbed to the top of tower at the charming church of the San Giorgio Maggiore. As we got out of the lift, the elevator man hurriedly pointed to San Marco's Plaza, smiling broadly and saying "bello, bello" like in a movie. And it was. There was no one up there but us, and for a few minutes we enjoyed a perfect combination of the best of man and nature. I hope this photo gives you a taste of what we experienced.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Postless Wednesday (almost)


I was going to post this lone fisherman for either Wordless or Watery Wednesday, but the day just disappeared... I'm posting it now for posterity, and because I like this shot very much -- it's one of a few I've had enlarged and framed over the years. I took this photo in Tangiers; I was quite far away on a cliff. Never found it if he caught anything or, for that matter, what he was angling for.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tiny treasure town




Still in Andechs... definitely a picture-perfect little village. That house at the top is my dream house--and the garden's pretty fabulous too!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Sailing into the sunset

On a business trip to Munich, Germany, I managed to take a few hours to go to picture-perfect Andechs. Saw the old monks' brewery, of course, but also found my way to a beautiful park in time to take this lovely (if I say so myself) shot as the sun came down.
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Friday, July 17, 2009

Stepping out on the town





Hope you enjoy this walk through the streets of Old San Juan.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Cotton Candy


Still in Kauai, another "Stop the car!" moment -- just had to take a picture of these clouds over a tilled field. Doesn't even look like a real sky!
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

At rest in Lavenham


Don't have a relative buried here so this probably doesn't qualify as a Tombstone Tuesday, but the cemetery in Lavenham (Suffolk, England) made me feel truly at peace so I'm posting these photos today.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Garden Isle no more



When I was in Kauai, it was called the Garden Isle. Now, apparently, locals prefer "Hawaii's Island of Discovery." Must say I was surprised how varied the beautiful island was, and how much there was to see, so perhaps the new nickname is the way to go. Not just gardens, after all!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Scenic Sunday: Granada

I was taking so many photos when I was in Granada, Spain, I had to be dragged away... definitely a scenic spot.
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Friday, July 10, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Moscow

Clouds gathering over the Kremlin in the former Soviet Union...We had no idea what was coming, of course.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

People watching in Old Tangiers

Got some great people-watching in when I was in Tangiers--all men, of course, the women were home working.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A climb too far




When I was in Tangiers, I was taking pictures of the beautiful sea over a cliffside wall when my eye was caught by two boys struggling to make their way up. They eventually made it, but not fast enough--one of them had to stop, take his pants down, and have a pee. (No, I did not take pictures of that.)

Monday, July 6, 2009

Brigadoon on Hallstatt Lake



Hallstatt, Austria, is one of the most magical places I've ever visited--you drive through a mountain, and you go find yourself in another world. We very nearly didn't stay, even though we had a reservation! When we arrived, there were so many tourist buses we weren't sure we wanted to stick around; plus, you had to leave your car outside of town (in the mountain!), which means lugging suitcases to your hotel. So we went to Baden, the closest city, but were not able to find a hotel. We were so lucky! When we got back, all the tourist buses were gone and we were in Brigadoon.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Happy Birthday, America!

These photos are from a memorable trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. It was extremely hot, but the reenactors were as valiant as their real-life ancestors. As you can see from the Union Jack in the top photo, the year was 1775 and we hadn't quite told the Brits who was in charge yet. Soon would, though!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Seville

Took this photo at the Alcazaba in Seville, Spain; love the tiny little plane trail that intrudes in the perfect nature frame.
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Thursday, July 2, 2009

No barber in Seville, just bulls



The climb up the Giralda Tower (top) in Seville was rather strenuous, but the view was worth it. The bottom photo shows the Plaza de Toros, where I actually witnessed some bullfighting. Don't think I'd want to do that again, but it certainly was an experience I haven't forgotten!