Favorite photo: Venice

Taken from gondola in Venice. By Marietta McLellan.

Why I Travel...

The Abbey at Iona

High on our list was the Abbey at Iona. We stayed the night on the island

and went to Vespers. Coming back to the B&B we walked through the old cemetery.

If you go to Scotland, this is  special visit.

French Ferris Wheel

There is a Ferris wheel in Paris and we found another in Honfleur. Not exactly the London Eye. But, then I think the London Eye spoils the Thames.

The American Cemetery, Normandy France

Here we are placing a wreath at the Normandy Memorial

Memorial Day Appreciation to brothers-in-law, friends, and extended family who served

to keep me free.

Greenland from 35,000 feet

On a clear day Greenland from the air.

Wonderful.

The Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel from below.

Yes, it is worth going to Balmoral Castle

You need to plan ahead and be sure the Queen is not in residence, but find your way to Balmoral (by car is easy from Edinburgh) and stay overnight never the castle. Visit the village church

across the road and then the castle - actually a manor house. See Prince Phillip's

paintings and the stables plus the lovely grounds. 

The trip to the castle is also lovely.

Barcelona Surprises

Architecture in Barcelona is wonderful from old to modern, with surprises at every turn. 

Dingle Harbor, Dingle Ireland

It was a beautiful warm day to walk out to the end of Dingle Harbor. We got to see Fungi, the dolphin and a couple of nude bathers. We did not thin that the sunny day would harm us, but we got bad sunburns. Who would have guessed? I suppose an Irishman.

Favorite photos: Spain

      Driving back to Madrid from Seville, we discovered a hill with a castle and these windmills. The sleepy town had a place for lunch and a chance to meet some locals and then drive up the hill to get close to the windmills. Having read about them, it was fun to see them and from them to see the landscape around them. These are really not far from Madrid or Toledo. Worth the short drive.

Take waterproof gear when visiting Victoria Falls

Here is a photo of Victoria Falls (I think from the Zambian side, but not sure). in any case lots of water which gets picked up by the wind and finds you. You can buy rain gear there and if you are on a tour, they will provide it. If you are traveling on your own it is better to take a fold up poncho along as you may also need it in other areas if it rains. Zambian and Zimbabwe do not have summer and winter. They have rainy and dry.

A gaggle of hippos

In Africa (South Africa) we saw this group of hippos. I have no idea what a group is called. A group of giraffes if standing is a tower. A group of giraffes walking is a journey.  A group of wild dogs is a pack. A group of lions is a pride. A group of hippos is a bunch of big animals.

Rose Window

Paris France, Private chapel Rose window

One moment please

I had to change computers due to the last one's death. This one is fine, but I need to load some 4,000 photos into it. need a simple cord and will have it soon. For now, go back and look at the memories in the column on the right. Thanks - Mike

Some days the photo fairies just help out

.Fun photos are 10% art and 90% good luck for me.

Holy Water

Church in Verona, Italy.

Castle in Lichtenstein

I would like to warn people about Liechtenstein. It is small, but more than one city.

If you read a map like there is only one, you can get lost.

Yes, I got lost driving in Liechtenstein.

Along the Seine

A church along the Seine

Notre Dame Last Summer

Sunday mass at Notre Dame, Paris

only a couple of months before the fire.

Photo by Mike McLellan

Granddaughter meets sheepdog and helps sheer sheep in the Scottish Highlands

      What fun. Last summer we traveled to Scotland and our granddaughter, Sarah, got to play with 

a whole litter of new sheepdogs and then learn hands on to sheer sheep. It was great fun, as well to hear the whistles and watch the dogs work.  This is what is included as part of a Road Scholar tour.

Loch Ness, Scotland

You can see by the date that this photo was taken last summer. We went out on Loch Ness in a research vessel. A wonderful experience. According to the scientist aboard we saw about all there is to see of the monster ... nothing. But a fun visit none-the-less.

African Wild Dogs take down Impala

These are the dangerous ones.  Photo taken on safari in Botswana. Chobe National Park.

California USA Coast, Off Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Our go-to place for whale watching.