Favorite Photos: Straits of Gibraltar

The Straits of Gibraltar... Spain at the right, Africa (Morocco) on the left. 

Amsterdam Right or Left

     When coming from the train station, people say to watch for these two towers when crossing the bridge. Some say to keep to the right and you will miss the Red Light District and be in a better part  of town. I say keeping to the left is more interesting, Aside for the Red Light District, there is Anne Frank's House and the Rembrandt House and museum. You can skip the Red Light street if you want.

Barcelona, Spain

A city of art and passion.

Returning to Austria

Just a couple of random photos from a trip to Austria.

Our plan is to go back this fall to see the colors changing.

Bookshop display, Johannesburg South Africa

Prices in Rands

Stained Glass, Feldkirch Austria

Pretty church just off the main square with bold stain glass.

Sunset, Tracy California USA

Even the birds stop to watch.

Venice in the evening

     Literature and traveling are closely related. Reading Henry James on Venice is helpful be a trip there, but even better after your visit. "Heidi" makes more sense after a trip to the Alps. The Alps have more meaning after reading "Heidi". 

      One of the most meaningful lines I have taken away from literature was the admonishment to walk in the evening after the tourists have gone to bed or back to the ship in Venice or Florence or even Kenmare Ireland. We have made it a habit. Only locals are out in the evening and we give up our label as tourist and become adventurers after dark. 

     This goes for many places in the world. I love walking in London in the evening. There are people coming from work or going to the theater. here are students gathering in the pubs. These are the people I come to meet, not someone from Little Rock. If I wanted to meet someone from Arkansas I'd go there. And, I have.  Photo by Marietta McLellan 

Amsterdam Snapshots

It is useful to use the bell towers as reference points in getting around. 

The Fenice, Venice Italy

I had read the book, "City of Falling Angels" before going to Venice. It is primarily about the giant fire that destroyed the Fenice Opera House in Venice. We were there after it was rebuilt and it is remarkable. I am now rereading the book and it brings back flood of memories of the theater and the city.

The Gift that Gives

     Aside from taking a trip together every year, we have been taking our grandchildren on the trip of their choice when they turn 12. The photo is of us in Africa on safari. The gift we seek to give is not just a cool trip, it is a lifelong desire to see the larger world. We wish to instill in them that they are citizens of a global society. So far it seems to be working.

Swiss Village in the Rain

I guess this was seven years ago and it was raining as hard in Switzerland as it has been here. The rain was so hard, we did not see the Alps.

Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona

Cooling off in the summertime. 

European River Cruise

      This is a small town along the Seine River in France as seen from a river cruise. We have just booked a 21 day trip to Central Europe that includes 11 days on the Danube. Never thought I would go on one and then I was hooked. Beats me driving and having to be told what I saw.

The power of stopping

     One of my two favorite themes is "Stopping just to watch", the other being, "Always enjoy getting lost". This is a photo of a grandmother and granddaughter (plus others) stopping to watch the activity in the courtyard of the Louvre in Paris. The people and the buildings are interesting as is the interaction between the two. You can see all the important sites in Paris in one day and actually not see a thing. I mean by that, rushing gets you nowhere. It is far better, in my opinion, to see a couple of places well than fly by a bunch. Sit in Luxembourg garden for half a day with bread and cheese and watch the kids playing in  pond. It is worth every minute of it.

Photos by Mike McLellan

Trip planning

     This is our system: 1) Come up with idea. The idea to go to Brussels came from my grandson who wanted to visit it because his  heritage is Flemish. We were on our way to Africa and needed a stop over anyway. As we were landing in Paris, it was easy to schedule a train trip to Brussels for 3 or 4 days.

     Next: 2) we set out a calendar of when we were going. It included the African Safari and set out four days before and four days after (we decided to go to Amsterdam on the way home). Okay, that is 25,000 and we could go around the world at that. Did not sound difficult at the time and wasn't when we went.

     3) Now, it was a few hours figuring out the flights. We had a budget and wanted to go Premium so we had to look at various airlines, dates and our current miles earned. 

     4) Once we had the idea for the flights, we booked the tour in Africa, the flights and then started filling out the other items: a) how to get to airport, b) book hotel in Brussels, c) book tour of Brussels, d) list other places to see, e) book hotel in Amsterdam, f) book tours in Amsterdam, g) book trains.

     5) Print up all material and put in notebook.

     6) Make sure all travel documents were in order and that TRAVEL INSURANCE was set up.

     7) Start reading up on  what we hoped to see.

     8) Pack things needed one week in advance and take out things each day that we did not want to carry for 25,000 miles.

     9) Arrange our carry-on and small bag with TSA things.

     10) Final step. Pack sense of humor and willingness to change plans when needed, because both will be needed.

Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

     The Victoria and Albert Museum has a wonderful hallway with original sculptures, especially those of Rodin. But, as you travel around the museum you will also find lovely examples of other sculpture. Then, as you walk along a gangway from one area to another, you look down upon hundreds of art reproductions either modeled or cast from other famous art. There are many casket covers from famous graves, as well. In the bottom photo you see some of the fabulous copies including Michelangelo's David from the Academia in Florence.

     While we love the British Museum and have returned to view it again, the Victoria and Alberta is filled with wonderful art.

Where would you like to live?

     I have not been to every place in Europe so the question is: "Of all the places you have been where would you like to live in Europe?" It is a very subjective question. I love Florence, but I think it is too expensive. I like Feldkirch, Austria but it is not that easy to get to if I wanted to get back to the U.S. quickly. I really like Sterling, Scotland and Kilkenny in Ireland, but I will never choose unless I just stop imaging and act.

     Today I choose Verona, Italy. It is walk-able and friendly. It has art and history and is close to both the Italian Lakes and the Dolomites. Today, that is my choice. Ask me again tomorrow.

Almost everyone has a travel bucket list.

     While much of our travel has been to Europe and Africa, we have a bucket list that includes more than that. I want to visit the Eastern Block Countries, but high on our list is China, Thailand, Nepal, and Shanghai in Asia. We also are looking forward to a small boat trip up the Amazon.

      What is your list like? Maybe you live in the Near East and look forward to seeing California, especially San Francisco and Yosemite - only short drives from my home. They are worth it. In fact, California has much of the world's geography EXCEPT the people. The people are the most important to us. We travel to encounter others in their own environments.

Mt. Hamilton, Coast Range California

Mt. Hamilton is the setting for an observatory. It is between the Central Valley of California and the Livermore Valley upon what we call the Altamont. It has great views all around and last week had snow.

Favorite Photos: South African Lion

      This is a favorite of mine as I think that it is both a good photo and I was there to take it. Photos are like that. Good or bad, they bring back memories. This fellow was with two lady friends. He would not admit it, but he was not in charge.

Small boat on Lake Louise, Canada

      Lake Louise is likely one of the most photographed bodies of water in the world what with its glacier in the background. Most photos are taken from this viewpoint which is on the edge of the walkway in front of the famous hotel. I have taken a few from higher up on the terrace and from the bar. The water is really that color. The water holds glacier dust and reflects light this way. At any time day or evening it is pretty.

The Best View in Paris

Montmartre is primarily known for its artistic history, the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on its summit, and as a nightclub district. It is accessible by stairs, tram, or taxi. It is a great view and a great visit. I would say it is a must see. However, watch for pickpockets on the way up or down. Do not let people with clipboards get near you. I was confronted by a well dressed young man with a map and I grabbed his hand as it neared my wallet pocket (wallet was actually in front pocket) and yelled at the top of my lungs to others with me. He took off running. Montmartre is not any worse than places in the United States for this.

Street Art in Paris

     Art is everywhere in Paris. This is a "Clock Tower" at an intersection. You will note the architectural art of the buildings and the ever present graffiti on the building at right.  Europe is covered by taggers. The most visible is along the train tracks. Below you will see a small work on a wall along the walk down from Montmartre. 

France is the popular site for 2019

     Now that everyone knows that France is the number one tourist site for 2019, it is time to considered places less likely to be overrun by tourists. I love Paris like everyone else. but the best view of the Eiffel Tower is from blocks away from the line to go to the top. The Louvre is amazing, but so is the Picasso. Pick and choose to see things close up rather than from behind a huge crowd. Top photo is a small town out along the Seine flying their flags. Below is part of a mill in Bayou. The bottom is a long shot of Mt. St. Michel. By all means see Paris, but Paris is not all of France.

On Safari In Southern Africa

It is all about the animals and how they interact with the local people.

It is about how important each is to the other.

It is about NOT coming to Africa with a gun, but rather with a camera.