Barcelona is a gorgeous city; this is its harbor on a bright day. Don’t you just want to go sailing?
A beautiful spring day in Barcelona, one that ensures you that summer is soon on the way. These boats all look ready to take you out to that deserted beach or island. I want to go!
At the end of the famous shopping street of La Rambla, wandering down to the Barcelona Harbor and Port is a great way to relax. To let the breeze take your stresses and troubles and push them out to sea. Just standing on [...]
Continue reading Reflection #568 – Barcelona Harbor
The French region of Alsace is one of my favorite places in the world. Here are a few reasons why:
Alsace is located on the eastern side of France, along the German border. It is a region rich with vineyards. In spring, you can see scenes such as this, as the bright, lime-green leaves of the first grapes begin to appear. Later, in the fall, the leaves are dark, and the grapes are full and heavy. They begin picking and wine fests pop up all over the region. At any time of year you can visit the [...]
Continue reading Addicted to Alsace
When you hear the word “China” all types of exotic images run through my mind. For me, words like “busy,” “crowded,” and “ancient” pop in mind as well.
I took this photo of one of the canals in the Forbidden City as soon as the ticket booth opened. There were people around, and they were beginning to enter by droves, but I was able to capture an almost empty and serene scene.
Beijing is a fascinating place, full of food, people, and customs so unlike those in the western world. I’ve been there a number of times, and each [...]
Continue reading Reflection #567 – Forbidden City
A fairy tale castle not far from Lisbon, the Pena Palace.
The Pena National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Sintra, Portugal. Only a half hour drive from Lisbon, Sintra is one of my favorite cities on the Iberian Peninsula. There is way too much to see in one day, though, so you might want to stay overnight. Sintra is full of parks and palaces, it’s very near the ocean with cliff views and beaches, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from as well.
We visited the Pena Palace in the later afternoon, after we [...]
Continue reading World Heritage Site – Pena Palace Portugal
Lake Van, in eastern Turkey, hosts stunning scenery, a great boat ride, four islands, and an Armenian cathedral turned museum. It’s well worth the visit.
Summer is the best time to vist the Lake Van area of Turkey. It’s elevation is about 5,400 feet, so it’s dry and can be quite cold most parts of the year. In June, the flowers are popping everywhere and the trees and ground are much greener than later in the summer.
One of the most fun things to do is to take a quick 20 minute boat ride to Akdamar Island to visit [...]
Continue reading Lake Van, An Island and A Cathedral
Not quite as large or impressive or well-known as Christ the Redeemer in Rio, this statue of the Virgin Mary overlooks the gorgeous city of Santiago, Chile.
We took the funicular up the hill and it provided a panoramic view of the entire city. I love a funicular, and this was one of the best I’ve been on.
At the top of San Cristobal Hill, where the statue is located is a nice park to walk around, and many vendors and cafes. It’s a great little jaunt if you are in the city.
Down below, where you pick up [...]
Continue reading Reflection #552 – Santiago Statue of the Virgin Mary
Welcoming the storks back from winter.
In the last few years, I’ve really looked forward to the arrival of the storks. Somehow they know the weather better than us, and they bring with them fresh green leaves on the trees, tulips and daffodils, and other spring colors.
When we were traveling in Israel, we were able to witness them migrating. One day there was a sand and wind storm coming in from northern Africa, and although it made for a pretty miserable day for humans, the tired birds were elated.
We looked into the sky to see [...]
Continue reading Storks and Spring are Finally Here
A mountain view from the Alaska Highway
We love to drive! It gives us so much more control over what we do and see, and take photos of, for that matter.
This is a mountain shot taken somewhere along the Alaska Highway, north of Dawson Creek. No matter where you are on the Alaska Highway, the views are amazing, and you get to see all kinds of wildlife to boot.
Don’t think you’ll be out there on your own, though. Especially during the summer, there is an amazing amount of people on the road, from small cars to [...]
Continue reading Reflection #551 – Alaska Highway Vista
Hoi An, Vietnam is one of those places that every tourist goes to while in the country. Yes, us too. There are two great reasons to go here. One is My Son, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the second is all the tailors in town who make clothes to order.
We enjoyed both of these activities, but one of the things I liked best about traveling to Hoi An was this dilapidated Japanese bridge, and the other was the people. The Vietnames people must be some friendliest in the entire world, and the people from Hoi An the [...]
Continue reading Reflection #549 – Hoi An Bridge in Vietnam
Traveling through the Languedoc-Rousillon region of France was a mixture of stunning landscapes, scrumptious food, and sophisticated wines.
Our time in southern France, the Languedoc-Roussillon region, was relaxing. We rented a gite (cottage) for a week in a town near Montady. We woke up every morning and headed straight to the boulangerie to get our choco-pain or warm crossaints.
From there, we would head to the day’s destination such as Carcassonne, Canal du Midi, Pont de Gard, Nimes, Narbonne, Agde, and more. We would explore until lunch, where we would try to sit and have a wonderful French [...]
Continue reading Reflection #548 – Wine Yard in Languedoc-Roussillon
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