Looking up in Paris

    There is much to see in Paris. Like most large cities there is plenty of shopping and places to visit. For me, the delight of Paris is just the every day creative beauty found in surprising places. While looking at eye level is wonderful, looking up is often a treat.
 

Inside the Tillamook Cheese and Ice Cream Plant, Oregon USA

Blocks of cedar on the way to packaging. 

Visual check.

 

Below The Rock Of Cashel, Ireland

Nearly all places of interest from years ago have Celtic cross.

The Rock of Cashel has one. The Abbey at Ionia has one.

Graveyards are full of them.

This photo of Ireland taken in a cemetery below The Rock

is filled with examples.

 

Flamenco In Madrid Spain

The bar is dark from the black walls. In the center of the tables there is a stage.

A band with heavy use of acoustic guitars sits to one corner.

Several male and female dancers come out and explain the nature of

flamenco and its tradition.

When they are done dancing, the audience is tired for them.

 

View from the bridge at Ronda Spain

A deep canyon divides the city. A bridge unites them.

 

African Wild Dogs

Graham, our bush guide in Botswana, warned us that of all the

animals the Wild Dogs were the most dangerous. This photo is the

less gruesome of many I took of the dogs bringing down

and sharing an Impala. Running in a pack, they gang up on their prey.

 

Christmas at Union Square San Francisco California USA

Photo taken through the window of the restaurant in Macy's.

Happy Holidays - whichever one you celebrate.

M&M 

 

Christmas Lights

Christmas lights near Woodburn Oregon.

 

Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls Zambia/Zimbabwe

    Flying through the canyon cut by the Zambezi River, the helicopter flies up and then over the falls. above the mist one gets an idea of the scope and power of the falls. 
 

Dusk over the bay at Kenmare Ireland

     We were on a long sweeping drive around the coast of The Republic of Ireland. About half way around we discovered one of our favorite places there. Kenmare is a middle-sized town on the South-Western Coast of The Republic. It has an area of standing stones and tidy downtown area. 

    On the south end to Kenmare is a lovely park with some interesting sculptures depicting three larger than life-sized people looking out to the bay. As we walked along we could look out toward the west and see a beautiful sunset. That is this photo taken just steps from the bed and breakfast in which we were staying. I would give Kenmare at least two nights of visiting time.

Spanish Cop Car

Police Car in Barcelona Spain.

 

Budapest Hungary

In Budapest there are many roofs like this one.

It is detailed tile work.

Charming.

 

Bratislava Slovakia

Bratislava is a pretty and interesting city as well as the capitol of Slovakia. 

It is on the Danube.

Everywhere in the city, you will find sculptures that surprise you.

 

The Canadian Rockies

     While I often laud the wonders of the Dolomite peaks in Northern Italy, there other mountain venues that have been special to me. My family had a cabin on the American River in California where I often explored the pool and falls.

      These photos are of the water falling in the Canadian Rockies especially in the area near Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper all in Alberta. While we roamed the area during the time it was warm in California, it was cool and mild there. The water was lovely. In the lakes, because of the glacial dust, the water is a blue-green. In many areas, as it moves in torrents, it is sparkling white.

     Water is ordinarily clear, but takes on many aspects of it environment.

 

Travel Notes: Grandchildren

    This is our granddaughter during a trip to Italy and France.  We have taken our grandchildren on a trip when they are 12 years old "anywhere they wanted to go".  This young woman had to wait through a pandemic to go on her trip. It is a blessing to us to see the world through their eyes and be able to have this special bond. They have "taken" us down the Seine and to the Normandy Beaches. We have gone on Safari with them in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We have gone along to the Highlands of Scotland. They have shown us Tuscany. We have accompanied them to Belgium and The Netherlands. All of them have been to France. We appreciate them.
 

Tuscany Vineyards

Tuscany is lovely.

 

Buckingham Guards

Beefeaters at Buckingham Palace and The Tower of London

are fun to watch and, when available, full of information,

 

Photos: Tuscany

    We take one photo as representative of the trip we have taken and put it on the wall of our place. Each grandchild's trip is especially represented. The one above is now photo-shopped and cropped into a photo that turns out to be a wonderful shot of the Tuscan sunflower fields. The road and the train window frame are gone. Lovely.
 

Saying goodbye to Horizon Turboprop

 

This is a photo of Mount Hood, Oregon from this early this year.

Our flight there was on one of Horizon's turboprop fleet.

Sorry to say (well not sorry) but this week we fly to Portland Oregon

on one of their new small jets.

Looking forward to it.

Vienna Austria

If you wonder what the fuss if about Vienna just walk around the museums,

stop at a coffee house, and attend a concert,

Lovely

 

Dusk, wine, and the Chobe National Park Botswana

    Relaxing with a glass of South African wine, we looked across the Chobe to the sounds of hippos.
 

Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris

        Take the Funicular up to the top of Montmartre and visit the artists and wonderful cafes, but don't miss (how could you?) The huge church overlooking the city. Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a major landmark.

 

Parliament Building, Edinburg Scotland

The main chamber.

 

A door in a close off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh

Decoded: the door to the Writers Museum which is located on a narrow side street leading to the main street in Edinburgh Scotland that runs from the Castle to the Palace.