San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers (details)

Victorian greenhouse filled with flowers. Gold Gate Park.

Poppy by the beach in San Francisco

Photo taken by the windmill pictured below.

Windmill in the Tulip Garden, Gold Gate Park, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

The tulips were not out, but the poppies were. 

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, California

Little Libraries

While many cities are closing libraries, little libraries are popping up in many places. We have seen them in Europe and our neighborhoods. The one pictured here is in Multnomah Village, Portland, Oregon. People are free to take or deposit a book. It is a throwback to paper editions. I still like holding a real bound paper book. There are at least two of these in the village, We have donated some of our volumes to help the process.

Nelson's Column, Trafalgar, London

Each time we have been to London we have ended up at Trafalgar enjoying all that it holds. Note Elizabeth's Tower in the distance over the houses of Parliament.

Favorite Photos: London. England

This photo I took in London seems to summarize some of the city. Here you see the window of a double deck bus, part of Westminster Abbey, Elizabeth Tower (home of Big Ben) and the London Eye.

The Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy

Perspective: The top photo is looking up the Spanish Steps and the bottom photo is looking from the Spanish Steps (with a long lens). I like the bottom photo as the men are about to snap their necks checking out the young women. That's Italy.

The Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains

Michelangelo's Moses

The statue of Moses is one of the features of the basilica. This is a beautiful place. Please note that I take - maybe - a couple of thousand photos during a month's trip. One of the things I often do is photograph the sign outside a place to remind me of where the photos were taken. Otherwise, I can forget. There are always some signs around, so use them.

The Dolomites of Northern Italy

So, I pulled off to the side of the road and my wife, Marietta, took this quick photo in the Dolomites. It was high on our bucket list and there are these vistas at every turn. It is still on our bucket list as we wish to some day return.

What's your favorite city?

Many travel sites ask about what is you favorite city. Do you love New York, Rome, Paris, London, San Francisco, or maybe Florence? Yes, I like those places. But, I think you like places because of your experiences there. Where did you have great encounters with interesting people? Were did you discover more about yourself? And, I suppose London should be on my list there along with Kenmare, Ireland. I posted the photo above of the tower in the center of Verona, Italy. I had  great time in Verona. I also loved a visit to Lampeter, PA and then there was Flagstaff, Arizona.   Maybe those last ones are not on your list. What makes your list? Why? - I have lots more.

Courtyard of the Louvre

I found it... the photo of the woman with her fingers over the top of the pyramid.

Courtyard at the Louvre

Well. I thought this was another photo I took of the courtyard at the Louvre. The one I wanted to post, and I will keep looking, shows several people standing on the blocks you see here. Next to the person on the block is someone taking their picture as if they have their finger on top of the pyramid.
      I have one of my grand-daughter holding up the Eiffel Tower, and anyone who has been to Pisa has a photo of their relative holding up the Leaning Tower. Amazingly we each think this is an original thought.

Floor of the Paris Opera House

I am fascinated by the beauty found in utilitarian objects. As a glass artist, people kid me that I rarely make anything that is just art. I have to make a bowl or plate or vase. There is value in useful things as well as pure art. So, as I go around I look at the details. Take the glorious mosaic floor of the Paris Opera House. It covers a vast area and is well done. People just walk on it. Without it there would be no opera house.  It did not have to be beautiful -but it is. I find it wonderful.

(Photo by Mike McLellan)

Honfleur, France, Ferris Wheel

Day and Night

Walking in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

 The Conservatory of Flowers

Stow Lake

A walk in North Beach, San Francisco, USA

We took a walk yesterday in San Francisco - or, as we call it, "The City". We were in North Beach for dinner and a play.  A little early we walked the Barbary Coast Walk and at the top of the hill peeked out and saw the Bay down Stockton Street.

Sky over Glacier National Park, USA

Every cloud is individually created.

Bridges of the Seine, Paris

I subscribe to several travel sites. Most of them make lists like: "What is your favorite city in Ireland?" or "What is your favorite food in Costa Rica?" The other day, one of the sites asked "What is your favorite bridge on the Seine?"  Ah, would it be the Bridge of Arts, or the the New Bridge? (Translated from the French). Why do I have to have a favorite? They are all unique and beautiful in their own way. Each links a great place to another great place. No lists from me. Try them all.

View from a Venice balcony

I have posted a number of photos of the Grand Canal of what we could see from our hotel room balcony in Venice. The one above is another photo looking west instead of south to the canal. It is the bell tower of a neighborhood church with one of the ubiquitous seagulls watching over the city.

I am not much of a bird watcher, but I like to take a picture, now and then, of pigeons, crows, gulls, and magpies who seem to own cities around the world. 

Favorite photos

Wellington outside of the Museum of Modern Art, Glasgow, Scotland 

MacLellan Castle, Kirkcudbright, Scotland

Our old homestead - a little ragged around the edges and no roof. Needs work.

Ferry Building, San Francisco, California USA

This is a shot the of Ferry Building late at night as we come in to San Francisco by ferry from the bay. This is a fun trip. We walked the Golden Gate Bridge and came back to the city by boat. You can do the same by bike. Or, you can go to Marin by Ferry and ride a ferry back.

Venice Door

I like doors and windows. This is a door along the canal opens up to the waterway in Venice.

FERRARI stores around Italy

Indeed, I am a car "nut".  Traveling around Italy I was looking for a Ferrari dealership so I could pretend to be a rich American looking for a new ride. Maybe I could get a test drive. Alas, at all these Ferrari "Stores" they just sold souvenirs. To go in one was like going into a San Francisco Giants store expecting to buy the franchise. 

In Rome, Italy - things are looking up

Rome is not the only place where it pays to look up, but it is a place full of surprises. We tend to be in a hurry and often miss some beautiful things because we are looking at where we are going. The great artist-designers of buildings in Rome, remembered that there are six sides to every box, and did wonderful things over head. While the bottom photo is of a lovely building designed for wealthy folks, the top photo is of a shopping area that has been covered from the elements.

Always check the details.

Black Friars, Kilkenny, Ireland

 

When I was in Senior High School I had an Irish-American English teacher.

I wrote an essay on "How to get an 'A' on an Essay" in which I praised 'Irland' and the beauty of 'Irland'. It came back with an "F" on it but no other marks. I march up and demanded to know what was wrong. He took the paper and - with a twinkle in his eye - made the "F" into an "A" and taught me to spell a word that I will never forget!