Nelson Monument - Calton Hill.

     The Nelson Monument on Calton Hill was built commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This hilltop gives great views of Edinburgh, Scotland. Many "postcard photos" are taken from the hill and this tower. This one taken by Sarah Boehringer. 

Maryhill Washington

     Maryhill is a museum in Washington State. It overlooks the Columbia River just east of The Dalles. Very interesting and varied. There are a collection chess sets, pieces by Rodin, and paintings. Then there are the pieces above. This is one sample. The throne of the queen of Romania. Lots of other gilded furniture.  It is a 2 1/2 our drive from Portland. Leave around 8 and see the exhibits. Have lunch in the museum cafe and see what you missed, take a run east (2 miles)  to a model of Stonehenge and then return to Portland. There is also time to top along Route 84 to see Multnomah Falls or stop at the Bonneville Power Plant.

French Ketchup and smart bottle

Even in France use need ketchup for your fries (frites).

The Chobe Delta, Africa

Here are two views of the Chobe Delta in Botswana. The top is from a plane flying into Kasane and the second from a tent safari location along the edge. Neither capture the most important aspect and that is the animals which are in abundance, especially elephants. However, as in all things, these animals are threatened by poachers and the loss of their land.

Two sisters plus three years

Madison 2015

Sarah 2018

     We took both of our granddaughters from the same family to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris as part of longer trips in Europe. We have set a goal to take each of our grandchildren wherever they want to go when they are twelve years old. Last year our grandson went to Belgium, South Africa (Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and The Netherlands. It has been fun seeing the world through them, but we need to admit that the age difference has put a strain on them. Hard on them watching over us. Next year we likely will go somewhere as a couple while waiting for our third granddaughter to make it to twelve. But, where in the world will she want to go? Tibet? Peru? China? The top of the Eiffel Tower

Seville Spain - great city

Seville is one of Spain's best places and there is adventure around every corner. It has  little bit of everything Spanish as well as a great night life. On your way to or from you will wish to visit some of the White Cities of Andalusia.

Victoria Falls from the air and from the bush

     The Zambezi River cuts through south central Africa. Where it divides Zambia from Zimbabwe, it tumbles into a canyon creating Victoria Falls. The top photo was taken from a helicopter and considering the falls are a mile wide it had to be from altitude. The bottom photo was taken from the trail along the Zimbabwe side of the falls. It is difficult to show scale, but a hint is made by the people on the bluff in the right of the photo. Huge.
     These pictures were taken by my then (it was last year) twelve year old grandson, Lucas Meurisse. As we fly out of San Francisco, this is half way around the world. Everyone should begin their teen years having been on safari.

The SMART Traveler Program

  So you are busy taking photos and looking at things like these two folks above. It is easy to have someone pick your pocket. While this photo was taken in Rome, I have plenty from Paris, Amsterdam, London etc. We just get caught up in the moment. 

      But, let's say you are in a small town in South America where gangs with guns are everywhere. You would like to know that, right?

     The United States State Department has a Smart Traveler Program. I belong to it. I can look up a country or area and find out what is going on. How safe is it?

      Nowhere in the world should you flash lots of money or wear a Rolex to the grocery store. Be smart. But, are there areas in Paris that might be dangerous at night? The locals know them like you know the ones in your home town. The State Department will help you plan.

      Last year we went nowhere in Johannesburg without a driver. We felt safe - I live near several big cities - but we were warned not to go alone. In fact, our hotel provided security for us in and outside the hotel. 

     Look up the program even if you never use it. I just got a warning about a beautiful beach in Mexico that suggests that I not go. I get to choose based on the information.

Research vessel on Loch Ness Scotland

     We went out on a research vessel that has been studying Loch Ness and, of course, looking for the monster. I was left with the impression that the skipper believes that sighting have been a combination of wind, wakes, and some large surgeon having made their way into the loch.
      None-the-less, we were treated to driving the boat and using the sonar and other equipment.  The top photo details a cross section of the loch (lake) with gradual sides going down to a flat bottom. The bottom photo shows this very thing from a different angle.
      We did take a photo of the cross wake which resembles the pictures of the multi-humped serpent. In the end, we decided that there is a monster because it is more fun than none at all. Besides, Nessie has not hurt anyone.

Gate to Tulloch Castle, Scotland - Haunted?

Room 8 in Tulloch Castle is said to be haunted (as are other rooms). Not believing in ghosts, I did not see or feel any. But, the castle (really a manor house) is complex in construction and odd as it is. It is well located to explore the the Northwestern Highlands.

Reflections of The Firth of Forth railroad bridge.

Brussels Belgium EU

The old city hall in what is known as "The Place" is a gathering spot. A plaza, in Central Brussels. Lovely even in the rain. We were on our way to Belgian waffles.

Carr Fire in California reaches Lake Shasta

This photo by Shane Parker shows the Carr fire reaching the banks of Lake Shasta.

The north part of the state - and Southern Oregon USA - is full of smoke.

Did not see a thing

   This photo was taken last spring in a flight from Sacramento to Portland. We just arrived again. This time by car. Did not see mountains or much of anything except vast clouds of smoke. In the 600 miles we had only a few clear miles, mostly in Portland. Today it is 79 in Portland, a far cry from the triple digits of the last month in California.

Lake Como, Italy

     This photo was taken at the Bella Vista Hotel across from Lecco and on our way to Belligio. I really enjoyed our stay.  When I think back, I also remember that the male owner of the hotel was in charge of a small part of breakfast, He threw himself into making toast.  In many bed and breakfasts, the male owner does the cooking and cleaning up from breakfast. The owners have to divide labor in some way. At the Bella Vista he made toast and, I am sure, did other things. If I owned  hotel on Lake Como, I would wash the windows daily which would allow me to look out on that beautiful water.

The Dolomites, Italy

     This photo was taken from the window of our bed and breakfast in La Villa, Italy. It is looking East across the valley to one of the mountains of the Dolomites that stretch for miles in the region. This is likely to be one that we went up in a gondola lift. You will note that it was taken in September of 2012 - not that it has changed much since then. The Dolomites are grand in summer or winter. They were the site of the Winter Olympics (Cortina) and plenty of bike, motorcycle, and auto races around the hairpin curves. (I found myself in a Porsche Road Rally coming down one mountain. I was driving a rented Mercedes B-Class - the Porches won...)

Guessing Game

     Can you guess where this photo was taken? Some hints would be the palm trees and succulents. Check the license plates - very long - cannot be Florida or Hawaii. Okay, I'll tell you. This was taken in Lismore, Ireland. The south of Ireland and even the western coast of Scotland has palm trees. The beach at Nairn, Scotland has many of the same shells as you find in Florida. Yes, you are right, the latitude of, say, Dublin is about the same as Victoria British Columbia. But, the fact is that the Gulf Stream brings warm water from the Caribbean, across the Atlantic and warms the Western Coasts of Europe. This is a magic, wonderful world that defies our imagination.
    The photo here is of a newly opened Bed and Breakfast that we found on a back road in South-Central Ireland. I prefer something with more historical character, but when we got there it was late and we had  long way to go to get to Cobh on the coast.

View Across Sedona, Arizona

Pretty sure this is Cathedral Rock with Sedona in the foreground. I say that I am pretty sure due to the fact that a whole bunch of formations look like cathedrals. This photo was taken from the airport atop a mesa. The airport provides a great view.  (Sorry for the typos in the original post. Forgot to proof.)

The Alhambra, Granada Spain (Generalife)

     Almost everyone takes this same photo out in the Alhambra Gardens in Granada. I sometimes try to not take these common photos and then I realize that they are popular for a reason. They are either very representative of the area, or they are just plain "cool". The lighting here could be better, but it still reminds me of a great visit to a wonderful place. 

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is in the last stages of being finished. Dominating Barcelona, it is more than a church - it is great art. The photo here is of one of four gospel lights that surround the chancel. Like it our not, it is  a wonderful piece of work. Advance tickets are recommended. 

Whisky Experience, Edinburgh

     The Whisky Experience is a tour centering around Scotch Whisky - not whiskey. There is information on the nature of the drink and why it has variations. In the final tasting room you get to taste some Scotch, but the most impressive thing to me was being surrounded by over 5,000 different types, kinds and brands of Scotch. This collection indicates how many kinds there are. The photos above are just a small sample of the walls of the room.

Innsbruck Austria to Mittenwald Germany

     Not exactly a busy morning on the road out of Innsbruck on the way to  brief visit to Germany.   Coming around a corner there was a surprise -  a castle by the side of the road. Quick stop and photo. I usually do not do that. The plan is to stop and find details, seek out the keeper. But, our goal was to get to Feldkirk Austria for the night - by the way a surprise in itself, Feldkirk is a great visit. 

Look Up

Eiffel Tower

Ceiling of Cathedral across from Royal Palace, Madrid

    I spend a good deal of time reminding my travel companions to "look up" in wonderful places.  When you have your smart phone or camera in hand you tend to look around up and miss looking up. You know to look up in the Sistine Chapel, do it in other places too.

The Seine from the Eiffel Tower

This photo shows the location of our apartment this year and the ship we took four years ago down the Seine. A great views from the Eiffel Tower.  The Metro bridge is in the middle of the photo. Also, the soccer field is at lower left. Beautiful day over a beautiful city.

The Firth of Forth

We were on another boat on our way to an island in the Firth, when I photographed this sailboat sharing the water with us. It was a clear and warm day in Edinburgh, but cool on the water.

Celtic Cross

     Walking down to Holyrood Palace, passed the Burns Monument, from the American Embassy  in Edinburgh there is a wonderful cemetery. There are a good many interesting stones, but I was especially taken by this well-done  Celtic Cross.

Approaching the hottest summer on record in UK and Europe

This is a photo of a dog trainer showing us how the dogs herd the sheep. I am using it as an example of the record setting heat and lack of rain in the UK and Europe this summer. The photo was taken the highlands of Scotland. In our time there e could have expected several rainy days.  A few years ago we went during the same period and got regularly drenched. During our two weeks there this year it did not rain a drop and the temperatures were just plain hot. Ordinarily this field would be bright green.  As it was thins were growing increasingly brown.

Favorite Photos

From this photo, taken six years ago, you have no idea what this is or what it is about or why it is a favorite of mine. It is a picture of a window in the Castlevecchio, part of the Ponte Vecchio in Verona, Italy. Still nothing? This is a window in the Old Castle part of the old bridge in Verona, Italy. A favorite. Yes, it brings back memories of a great city's wonderful museum that is part of a pretty conveyance over the river. Memories flood my mind. Grand memories of adventure, love, and exploration. You must have photos that are full of your secrets too.