Disney's California Adventure

Disney's Grand Californian

I love WDW but have to admit my favorite resort is the Grand Californian adjacent to the California Adventure theme pack. Where else can you sit outside your room and have a view like this?

View On Black

No this isn't Greece, it really is unfashionable Bexhill-on-Sea! Although just back from this building is The De La Warr Pavilion, a Modernist icon for contemporary art situated a pebble's throw from the beach.

This magnificent Grade One listed building has welcomed over half a million visitors since re-opening in October 2005 after a major £9 million refurbishment and redevelopment. As well as being one of this country‘s architectural landmarks, it also has an enviable reputation as home to some of the best contemporary art on the international circuit today, exhibited in two beautifully restored galleries.

Fresh, locally-sourced food is served in our first floor restaurant overlooking the sea. Or you can sit in the café/bar or outside on the balconies for a drink and home-made snack from 10am- 5.30pm. There is also a breathtaking roof-top terrace where you can linger to take in the panoramic view before coming back down to the ground floor and visiting our shop, selling books and unique souvenirs by top designers.

A seasonal programme of events to cater for all tastes is available both inside the auditorium and outside – visit performances and events.

Entrance to the Pavilion is free

The De La Warr Pavilion is right next to the sea with views of Bexhill's award winning (Quality Coast Award) beach ,a vast expanse of unspoilt and safe sand and shingle for everyone to enjoy. Bexhill's beach is right next to Cooden beach and Norman's Bay, the scene of the Norman invasion in 1066.

For more information, please visit www.dlwp.com/ and www.discoverbexhill.com/aboutbexhill.php

Check out my set "Most Interesting 500" here!

Check out my set "The Cut" here!

Visit my Waldorfschool/Steinerschool related pinboards here!

Also known as the Snake bird or Water Turkey, the Anhinga is a year-round resident of Florida. It is also found from coastal sections of South Carolina westward to Texas and Mexico, and even south to Argentina.

A long-necked, long-tailed swimmer of southeastern swamps. Often seen perched on a snag above the water, with its wings half-spread to dry. Can vary its buoyancy in water, sometimes swimming with only head and neck above water (earning it the nickname of "Snakebird"). Often solitary when feeding, it roosts in groups and nests in colonies.

I found this one sporting his Breeding Colors along Alligator Alley at Circle B Bar Reserve.

Polk County, Florida.

The flying Irishman

Shortly before 8am, on the 9th June 1994 an Antonov Design Bereau Antonov-124 Ruslan [UR82066] landed at Dublin Airport. This in itself was unusual. Even before the giant freighter had rumbled to a halt on the cargo apron, a new Irish record was set. it was the heaviest air freight load to land in Ireland.

Aboard was a new 112 ton General Motors locomotive for Irish Rail. The locomotive was built by General Motors at London Ontario. From there it was flown to Dublin via Montreal, Gander and Reykjavik for en-route refuelling of the Antonov. The remaining locomotives arrived in a more traditional manner!

The locomotive numbered “201” in the Irish Rail fleet was the pioneer of the 201 class. It was the first of 10 high speed locomotives for Iarnrod Eireann (subsequently increased to 32). Given the massive investment in railcars in recent years it is likely that this will be the only locomotive order placed by Iarnrod Eireann?

The loco sported a new style Iarnrod Eireann logo which was officially launched on the 24th June 1994. Abnormal Loads Engineering (A.L. E.) of Stafford were contracted to bring the locomotive to the Irish Rail works in Inchicore from Dublin airport.

The eagerness of the team delegated with the move was dulled somewhat by the Antonov’s crews work hours restrictions /legal limits. The extraction of the locomotive required the presence of the loadmaster, who was a member of the crew. The crew as a whole were out of hours and were promptly sent to a hotel to rest.

It was later in the evening of June 9th that 201 emerged from the aircraft. Tracks had to be laid to position the locomotive onto the road trailer upon which it was to be transported. It is not every day that a locomotive is hauled through the streets of Dublin! Unloading was not completed by the mid-night deadline of June 9th, which had imposed by the Gardai,(police} with reference to minimal road traffic disruption, so 201 sat on the cargo ramp for 24 hours awaiting its move by road to Inchicore. This happened overnight on the 10th and 11th June. Upon leaving the airport it travelled down the M1 as far as the R102 (Coolock), Santry Avenue, Ballymun Road and toward the city quays. It paused briefly outside Iarnrod Eireann’s headquarters at Hueston station in the wee small hours of June 11th, for some “official” photographs. From there it was a relatively straightforward journey to Inchicore. The whole journey from Dublin airport to Inchicore was completed in a little over three hours.

201 entered service on the 29th July 1994 to Cork. With the massive increase in DMU’s to Irish Rail in recent years, and the almost total disappearance of freight traffic, 201 became surplus to operational requirements and was placed in storage in December 2008. Several more of the class are also in storage. Any 201 class not equipped for push - pull operation has been stored. Their fate remains very uncertain

The Asaro Mudmen come from just outside the town of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The mud men covered their bodies with mud and become white. White colour represents death in the Papouasian culture. On the fingers, they put bamboos sticks to make noise and frighten the ennemies. First people who watched mud men fled, terrified. Then it became a big attarction in the local festivals.The only original mud-man remaining is Mister Ruipo Okoro. He accuses some young men of other ethnical groups who are not descendents of the true ancestors to use the mud men ritual as an entertainment for tourists to make money.

© Eric Lafforgue

www.ericlafforgue.com

Here is the 23rd picture of my 52 project.

Theme of the week was "Trees".

An other one in my confortable streets! I got plenty of idea but I have decided to select this one. An other water reflection shot with an High Key post-treatment. I had fun to work on it.

Come here next Sunday for the picture number 24. Theme of the week will be "Colors".

500px

Langåskjølen nature reserve, just outside of Trondheim in Norway.

large size viewable here

240/365 - Our Daily Challenge - "Gossamer":

Every day has been so short, every hour so fleeting, every minute so filled with the life I love that time for me has fled on too swift a wing." Aga Khan

It seems not so long ago that I was sitting there, waiting for hugs from my two little girls. And now, I'm the Grammy. Where did the time go??? Hannah had a blast for this shoot! I stood just outside the frame on the right with my remote shutter release and we let her walk back and forth between us, sharing hugs on each end. She loved it and so did we!!!

I didn't have any sheer fabric or spider webs to shoot for this challenge, so I decided to play with a transparent portrait instead. It's rare for me to say this...I'm actually very happy with how this turned out. :) It might have been nice if the grass had been green, but I guess this dead stuff kind of works for the concept of passing time. lol. It's all we have left at the end of this brutal summer!

Better on black...hit L please.

Rerunning for Cliche Saturday: Clones scavenger hunt thread

Nikon D5000, 50mm

Available for purchase at Getty Images

A functional replica of an original wooden lighthouse. This is the "southern" lighthouse.

Excerpt from Lighthousefriends.com

.........“Given the historic significance of the breakwater,” says Burlington’s Mayor Peter Clavelle, “we came up with the idea of recreating the original lighthouse structures, and approached Senator Patrick Leahy’s office about the possibility of creating the replicas.” Leahy was able to obtain $250,000 for this project through a transportation bill in 2001.

The lighthouses were built on the Burlington waterfront by Atlantic Mechanical, Inc. of Wiscasset, Maine, so the public could view the construction process. Nearby, a kiosk, staffed with a historical interpreter, provided information about the Burlington breakwater and the lighthouse project.

It is obvious to even the casual observer that the northern and southern breakwater lighthouses are different. The original lighthouse plans could not be located according to Art Cohn, director of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. “What we did,” he says, “was use photographic evidence to create a set of plans that from the outside seem historically correct, and of course we chose two different time periods to represent - the smaller, southern light tower, which is circa 1857, and the larger, northern light tower which is circa 1890. We worked with the photographs and other historical images to ensure that people seeing the towers today would be actually viewing the same façade that they would have seen during those time periods.”

The two lighthouses are designed to withstand the environmental challenges that destroyed earlier versions. The lower portion of the northern lighthouse consists of heavy steel members capable of resisting forces approaching 400 pounds per square inch. The steel frame was covered with wooden panels, the bottom six feet of which are designed to break away in the event of a major catastrophic ice event, leaving the steel frame and the remainder of the structure intact.

At 7:35 p.m. on September 12, 2004, when the assembled crowd reached its terminal count the south lighthouse was activated. Seconds later, a flare lit the sky about the northern lighthouse, and it too began to flash. Speaking at the lighting ceremony, Senator Leahy remarked: “I love Lake Champlain, and I always thought its beauty could never be improved. But these distinctive new lighthouses proved me wrong. They bring an historical context to the rebirth of the Burlington waterfront. They are beacons that beckon us to enjoy and appreciate our lake. They welcome and guide pleasure boats, tourists and Vermonters looking for a picturesque place to relax and to enjoy the magnificent views. Lighthouse lovers everywhere are really going to enjoy seeing them.” .............

source: www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=874

(320 metres above sea level)

From the top of Mount Fløyen you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city and its beautiful surroundings. Words can hardly do justice to this magnificent panorama. So make sure you ride Fløibanen (only cable car of its kind in Scandinavia) or climb the Fløyen before you leave Bergen.

Bergen has been nicknamed The City of Rain for its plentiful rainfall – annual precipitation is 2250 mm (88 inches) on average. This is because the city is surrounded by mountains that the clouds cannot get over easily. Rain fell every day between October 29, 2006 and January 21, 2007, 85 consecutive days. In the winter, Bergen is one of the warmest cities in Norway, thanks to the Gulf Stream: 10°C and rain can happen in both January and July. The highest temperature ever recorded was 31.8°C, a record that dates back to 1947. The lowest ever recorded is -16.3°C, in 1987.

The high amount of precipitation is often used in the marketing of the city, and figures to a degree on postcards sold in the city. For a period of time there were umbrella vending machines in the city, but these did not turn out to be a success.

In recent years, precipitation and winds have increased in the city. In late 2005, heavy rains caused floods and several landslides, the worst of which killed three people on September 14. It is predicted by meteorologists that due to global warming, severe storms causing landslides and floods will become more powerful in the area and in surrounding counties in coming years. As a response, the municipality created a special 24-man rescue unit within the fire department in 2005.

Another concern is the risk of rising sea levels. Already today, Bryggen is regularly flooded at extreme tide, and it is feared that as sea levels rise, floods will become a major problem in Bergen. Floods may in the future reach the old fire station in Olav Kyrres Gate, as well as the railroad tracks leading out of the city. It has therefore been suggested by Stiftelsen Bryggen, the foundation responsible for preserving the UNESCO site, that a sea wall, built so that it could be raised and lowered as demanded by the tides, be built outside the harbour to protect the city.

Just outside of Solvang, California

Outside a shop in a small plaza in central Jerez, Spain

Outside of the famous Broken Spoke in Austin, Texas, sits this old, dilapidated bus. I don't know how long this thing has been sitting there, but it looks like quite a while. If it wasn't for the rust, I guess you can assume its age from the phone number only having 7 digits. Remember that? 7-digit phone numbers now seem so quaint, like browsers without tabs.

I wonder if this bus still works. I know we have a lot of smart Texas readers who can probably tell us the answer to that little piece of trivia! Under the photo of the bus, I put up the older picture of the Broken Spoke dance hall that was taken about 20 minutes later as the sun was finishing it's daily duties.

from the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

An early winter morning at the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the facility is adjacent to the Sydney central business district and the Royal Botanic Gardens, between Sydney and Farm Coves. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The Government of New South Wales, led by the premier, Joseph Cahill, authorized work to begin in 1958 with Utzon directing construction. The government's decision to build Utzon's design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect's ultimate resignation. Though its name suggests a single venue, the project comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest performing arts centres in the world—hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people. The venues produce and present a wide range of in-house productions and accommodate numerous performing arts companies, including four key resident companies: Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. As one of the most popular visitor attractions in Australia, more than seven million people visit the site each year, with 300,000 people participating annually in a guided tour of the facility. Identified as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings and one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world, the facility is managed by the Sydney Opera House Trust, under the auspices of the New South Wales Ministry of the Arts. The Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House

102/365.

+1 in comments.

i think its the time of year where every minnesotan, regardless of how much they love summer, is wishing for a taste of winter. if only the flowers would still bloom in the cold.

i bought this wig for a specific photo.. but today that idea morphed into something a little different, that im going to be doing tomorrow. its sorta funny. ;)

Please NO multi-invites and glitters.

This lovely V70 traffic car seen here parked outside a police station at Toddington Services on the M1. My thanks go to the officer for allowing photos and lighting the vehicle up!

6th May 2014

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© Copyright IOW 999 Pics - No Unauthorized Use.

Another fall shot from the archives. This one overlooking the Wenatchee River in Tumwater Canyon just outside of Leavenworth, WA.

Taken through the windshield as we started down this hill just outside of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, HWY 23.

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Please, no banners/photos/awards in the comments.

This is our joint "Tagged" pic. Since we've both been tagged multiple times. ;)

Mark's facts:

1. My name is Mark, most of you will know that. I'm on the left holding the sword. ;)

2. I have an awesome job at a very cool ranch, and I like working outside a lot. (which explains why I'm a tad more tanned then my bro.)

3. I believe Jesus Christ died for us and rose again on the third day. And that the Bible is the word of God, given to us by divine inspiration. (Haters are gonna hate. ;) )

4. Castle is the ultimate theme IMO. I can't get away from it, even when I try! But that's not to say I don't appreciate all the other themes and genres. :)

5. I'm proud to say I'm the reigning Master Builder of the Classic Castle forums. And I don't intend to give up my title to anyone! You have to beat me for it, fellas! ;D

6. I like sports, and above all... Ultimate Frisbee! Steven and I have a team we play with every Saturday! :)

7. A long time ago I helped start a RPG type thing called the Lands of Classic Castle, and we're now one of the biggest and best groups out there! I would definitely recommend you look into it! :)

8. Me and Steven are both traveling over 700 miles to BrickFairVA in a couple of days! We're both super excited! If you are able to come too let us know in the comments! :D

(BTW I will be giving an impromptu rockwork seminar next to our display on one of the days, so be sure to come by, ask questions, and hear me babble! ;D )

9. I know that the photo makes Steven look much bigger then me. But it's all trick photography! I'm standing in a hole for crying out loud! We're actually almost the same height. ( Roughly 6'4")

10. I wanted to finish with a huge thank you to the whole Online LEGO Community, I've found a lot of great friends on here and I wish I could tag every one of them! If you're not tagged don't sweat it. Post a tag pic anyway! ;)

Have a great day!

Steven's facts:

1. My faith in the Lord is very important to me. It's not just a part of my life, it is my whole life. I love the Lord God because He first loved me.

2.Homeschooling for the win!! Me and Mark were both homeschooled and we're very thankful for it! :)

3. LEGO totally rules. Period. I've been playing with it since I was four! My favorite theme is castle, but I'm starting to like steampunk. :D

Another theme I enjoy is brick-built animals.(in minifig scale) It's sad how few you see nowadays...

4. When I'm not building with LEGO I'm probably making a weapon out of duct tape! Me and Mark have had a business selling instructional books for several years. And as you can tell by the photo... we always enjoy a good battle! ;)

5. I enjoy sports like Ultimate frisbee and football but when I lived in FL, I spent most of my time outdoors fishing with Mark and my Dad.

6. I've got a blog, called A Brick Brother's Biography.

7. My favorite long-running TV show is Agatha Christie's Poirot. If you have Amazon Prime, check it out.

8. I can't wait for Brickfair Virginia. I'll be bringing a huge castle interior, nearly every animal I've ever made, and some sci-fi.

9. I've very good with my hands, like juggling, skeet shooting, and knife throwing, mostly duct tape. ;)

10. It has been a really awesome experience to meet and get to know all of you guys in the LEGO community. Thank you all for your support.

Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Central Florida

© 2013 Kevin Barry, All Rights Reserved.

This photo may not be used in any form without written permission from the photographer.

This image placed in the top 100 in last years NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association) Showcase, and will appear in an upcoming book by National Geographic.

To see more of my work, go to www.kevinbarryphotos.com

Okay, it's not really the opening to hell but it certainly looks like it could be. This is Hverir, a mudpot in the Mývatn region of Iceland. While the coasts of Iceland are incredibly beautiful, the Mývatn area certainly wins the award for uniqueness. It's incredibly geothermal with hot springs and steam vents everywhere.

------------------------------

ABOUT THE SERIES

------------------------------

In September 2011, my wife and I went to Iceland for a two week honeymoon. The trip was such an incredible experience. We started in Reykjavík and drove around the outside of the county counterclockwise. Although we made hotel reservations ahead of time, our day to day itinerary wasn't planned in advance so we could see/do whatever we felt like.

Iceland is such a diverse and amazing place. I've never seen such beauty, breathtaking landscapes, and an assortment of scenery anywhere else. One moment you're walking on a glacier and the next you're hiking through a lush landscape to a waterfall. Mid to late September seemed like the perfect time of year to go. There were no crowds at any of the sites, we had our pick of where to stay, and the weather was fantastic.

If you've never been to Iceland, photos (mine or anyone else's) don't really give it justice. It's somewhere you have to see and experience in person.

The peak on the left, Annapurna I is the 10th highest mountain in the world and sits about 10 Kms behind the ridge! The lower peak on the right, Mt. Hiunchuli, more like an extension of the Annapurna South peak (set outside this frame) is almost 2000 meters lower!

RIP Maurice Herzog (1919-2012) forever the charismatic and controversial figure. Maurice Herzog passed away today, Dec 15, 2012. This photograph is dedicated to his memory and to the other French heroes, Louis Lachenal, Gaston Rebuffat, Lionel Terray and the rest of the team that helped conquer the first 8000 meter peak on their first attempt, in 1950.

(Sorry, but there is a real story to this photo)

I checked the satellite in the afternoon, and the saw scattered clouds off the Pacific. I called my friend, James, and told him I was heading over to shoot the Crack. Once I arrived on Highway 1, I sent him a text telling him to get up here. The clouds and light were really nice, and the waves were massive. I thought that the swell might be too big to shoot the Crack, but fortunately it was a super low tide. I decided it would be safe as long as I stayed way back inside the small canyon.

It was about forty minutes before sunset, and the rocks were wet, and extremely slippery with moss. I slipped a little while trying to get to my position. I was extremely cautious, and took a very high, and dry route to get to my location.

Shortly before sunset, James showed up. We hadn’t seen each other in years, and it was great catching up on lost time. As we were talking, a couple showed up with their camera gear, and tripods. I could see them struggling over the slippery rocks, slipping a few inches, and then stopping. The waves were pounding just outside the reef, and they made their way closer to James and me. They guy knew that he was in our shot, and was trying to find a place to shoot, so we invited him to set up next to us.

He took his first step towards us with his camera and tripod in one hand, wearing his fully loaded gear pack. He slipped and fell, landing on his back, and instantly slid across the rocks like a torpedo, and flew down into the crevice.

I looked at James, and asked, “Did that just happen?” James replied, “F#*K!”

The crack is much deeper than I ever imagined this time of the year. He was down in there, and there was a good six to eight feet of rock rising above his head. The guy’s wife was screaming while he clung for life. The surge of the ocean pounded him inside the crevice. He was holding his camera gear, and grabbing onto the rocks below for his life. I kept screaming, “Let go of your camera! Throw your camera away!” I wanted to help him, but I didn’t want to die trying. I have heard about too many people dying while trying to save others in dangerous situations.

The man would completely disappear under the rushing water each time the ocean charged in.

I couldn’t just sit there and watch, so I climbed down the rocks and jumped across the shallow part of the crack. I carefully walked towards him still telling him to throw his gear away. By this time he was in so much shock that he clearly wasn’t thinking straight anymore. I finally found some rocks that didn’t have slippery moss, and knelt down reaching my hand out. After some time, a big ocean surge came in, and pushed him closer to me. I eventually grabbed his arm. He wanted me to take his camera first, and I told him it was ruined, but he insisted I take the camera clearly not thinking. I took his camera and put it out of the way. and tried to pull him out. He was exhausted, but eventually I was able to help him out, and on to higher ground.

About ten minutes went by wile the man sat down on the rocks in exhaustion; his clothes were soaked, and I can only imagine his thoughts about almost dying. Eventually he came over to me, and said, “My name is Z Y. Thank you.” His wife thanked us too, and we told them to get to their car, and get dry.

I will never forget that day as long as I live.

I hope my story gives you a sense of how dangerous this place can be. Please be careful if you shoot the Davenport Crack, or anywhere along the coast.

As far as the photo goes; it was taken before the accident.

21mm @f/11 @ 8 seconds ISO 200 B+W 10 stop filter.

When nature calls, i anwser :)

Was there in this beautiful weather and found this spot that gave me this nice frame.

Combination of lava and sea.

This lava is said to be around 8000 years old and is found just outside of Reykjavík

The main building on the Fermilab complex sits on a reflecting lake in Batavia, Illinois (about 45 minutes from downtown Chicago).

They have the world's second largest particle accelerator (3.9 miles in circumference) underground, I believe. And of course, Buffalos.

See the interior here: www.flickr.com/photos/7604565@N06/4541542623/

For my official site and inquiries, please visit photography.JosephLekas.com

Taken from my car on Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Central Florida

Canon Rebel XSi and Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Just outside the frame to the left there's a shallow river which forms the border to Russia. In some places it's so narrow that you could jump across, but that's highly illegal.

I have some photos of the actual border and the Russian side. Maybe I'll post some later.

Grense Jakobselv, Norway.

this was an epic overnight trip into faindourain bothy. the 1st big snows of the winter had fallen and that night a great blizzard swept across the cairngorm plateau and tragically 2 aberdeen uni climbers died after a climb in coire an't-sneachda. a member of my group fell ill on the walk out from faindourain bothy & i stayed with him in the fords of avon refuge- a cramped, chilly, grim shelter in the very heart of the cairngorms- while the others went for help & the blizzard raged outside. no help came: the MRT were too busy looking for the aberdeen climbers... next day the storm was gone & the thaw set in and we walked out ok. an epic.

my heavily pregnant wife mairi was unruffled when she heard i'd been left behind in an emergency refuge with an unwell mate...

Bald Eagles are found in North America.

The Great Seal of the United States features a bald eagle.

The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States.

Although their name suggests otherwise, Bald Eagles are not bald.

Female Bald Eagles are larger than male Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagles eat mostly fish, swooping down to the water and catching them with their powerful talons.

Bald Eagles live for around 20 years in the wild.

Bald Eagles build very large nests, sometimes weighing as much as a ton!

The Bald Eagle was added to the list of endangered species in the United States in 1967 and its numbers have recovered well since.

I found this one along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.

I can't remember the last time I was on Joe Overstreet Road or at the County boat Ramp that is at the end of Joe Overstreet road, that I have not seen a Bald Eagle. Guess I'll have to put up with it! (Smile)

Audubon’s Crested Caracara is a large species of raptor that can reach a body length of 19.7-25.2 inches (50-64 centimeters). The Caracara has a dark brown-black belly, wings, back, and crown; and a white lower belly, head, and throat. The Caracara also has a bluish-gray to light bluish dark yellow to white bill, red cere (facial skin), and a white tail with dark crossbars .

The diet of Audubon’s crest Caracara primarily consists of carrion (dead animal carcass), amphibians, reptiles, mammals; eggs; and other birds.

Audubon's Crested Caracara inhabits wet prairies with cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto). It may also be found in wooded areas with saw palmetto cypress , and scrub oaks.

Caracaras will also inhabit pastures. Audubon's Crested Caracara is found throughout south central Florida, and also occurs in Texas, Arkansas, Mexico, Cuba,and Panama.

I found this one at Dinner Island Ranch in Hendry County, Florida.

Zuhause ist es am schönsten.

I love traveling to foreign countries and better yet I love coming back to my home country of the United States after a great trip. The only problem is that sometimes I find American government officials annoying.

Returning from Mexico City, I was stuck in a long line at the Charlotte Airport awaiting to be interrogated by the next suspicious U.S. Customs agent. When it was my time to be questioned I was asked where I was returning from.

“Mexico City!” I calmly told the agent.

I knew that set off red flags in her head and she immediately went into Sherlock Homes mode.

“What were you doing in Mexico City?”

“Where you traveling by yourself?”

“Did you meet somebody there?”

“Why Mexico City?”

“Do you have friends or family that live there?”

“What do you find appealing in Mexico City?”

Of course I knew what she was insinuating. I was born and raised in the international border city of San Diego and I am accustomed to being subjected to questions regarding travel in Mexico whenever I would return from there. Since I was coming back from Mexico City, in her mind she must have been thinking I served on the board of directors of some Mexican drug cartel.

But it was her last question that really set me off.

“Why Mexico City when you could be enjoying the beaches of Mazatlan, Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel?”

I looked her squarely in the eye and replied, “Why would I want to spend my hard earned money traveling to a Mexican beach resort that’s overpriced and congested with those Americans (as I pointed back to the line of tanned Americans wearing nothing but slippers, shorts and T-shirts proclaiming “I ‘heart’ Cancun”)? I travel overseas to meet locals not other Americans.”

Somehow she let me back into the country.

God bless the U.S.A.!

Happy 4th of July my fellow Americans!

And the photograph...

I’m standing at the midpoint on my way up the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world) in the ancient city of Teotihuacan (an hour outside of Mexico City).

Somehow of all the photographs I took at Teotihuacan this one had the most appeal to me. The incongruity of a local woman holding her child and the tourists holding their camera and gasping for air (the altitude of the Mexico City metropolis, which is perched atop a highland valley, sits at 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level).

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Nikon D300 22mm f7.1 1/200 iso200

Estuvimos hace no mucho en Noordwijk y me gustó especialmente la luz que había a esta hora de la tarde en esta estatua de la Reina Guillermina de Holanda.

Guillermina (Guillermina Elena Paulina María de Orange-Nassau), 31 de agosto de 1880 – 28 de noviembre de 1962) fue la reina gobernante de los Países Bajos desde 1890 (en realidad desde su mayoría en 1898) hasta 1948 y Reina Madre con el título de Princesa de 1948 a 1962.

Hay una foto tomada por otro compañero aquí...

Gobernó los Países Bajos durante más de cincuenta años, el reinado más largo de un monarca holandés. Durante su reinado se produjeron varios acontecimientos clave en la historia holandesa y mundial: la Primera y Segunda Guerra Mundial, la gran crisis económica holandesa de 1933 y el declinar de los Países Bajos como imperio colonial. En el exterior de los Países Bajos es recordada por su papel durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, inspirando la resistencia holandesa y convirtiéndose en una destacada líder del gobierno holandés en el exilio.

La Reina Guillermina murió a los 82 años el 28 de noviembre de 1962 y fue enterrada en el panteón familiar de la familia real holandesa en Nieuwe Kerk en Delft el 8 de diciembre de 1962. El funeral fue, a su petición, y contrariamente al protocolo, completamente de blanco, para expresar su creencia de que “la muerte terrenal sólo es el comienzo de la vida eterna”.

Si Guillermina no hubiera abdicado en su hija antes de morir, habría reinado 72 años y 5 días, lo que habría sido el segundo reinado más largo de Europa (tras el de Luis XIV de Francia, el sexto más prolongado del mundo y el más largo de una mujer en toda la historia.

Feliz fin de semana a todos, todos.

We have been not long ago in Noordwijk and I liked especially this late noon light over Queen Wilhelmina statue.

Happy weekend to all of you…

PLEASE, no multi invitations, glitters or self promotion in your comments, THEY WILL BE DELETED. My photos are FREE for anyone to use, just give me credit and it would be nice if you let me know, thanks - NONE OF MY PICTURES ARE HDR.

The city of El Djem was built, like almost all Roman settlements in Tunisia, on former Punic settlements. In a less arid climate than today's, Roman Thysdrus, now El Djem, it prospered especially in the 2nd century AD. The amphitheater was built here in the early 3rd century AD.

This amphitheater could hold up to 35,000 people making it the third largest in the Roman Empire after the Colosseum in Rome and that at Capua (in ruins). Its 427m (1400ft) outside circumference is 100m (328ft) shorter than the Colosseum.

All is quiet in the lost station.

A last train is waiting.

Waiting someone to awake.

Someone for a last wake

A last journey.

Tout est si calme dans la gare oubliée.

Le dernier train attend dans le silence.

Quelqu'un pour le réveiller.

Quelqu'un pour l'emmener

Dans un dernier voyage.

Bratislava, Slovakia

It was hot, I was tired. Laying down outside seemed the perfect thing to do.

Sunbury Plantation House, Barbados.

Sunbury Plantation House was built around 1660 by Matthew Chapman an Irish/English planter, who was one of the early settlers on the island. Matthew was also related to the Earl of Carlisle who granted him the land. As seen on the first map of Barbados in 1638, Sunbury Plantation was first called Chapman's Plantation. It also had a Cattle Mill which was noted on the 1674 Richard Ford's map of Barbados.

After 1693 the property was renamed Branker's Plantation after the second owner Nathaniel Branker until 1763 when it was sold to James Butler Harris. It was during Harris' ownership that the bell in the Bell House was erected. To this day it stands with the name "James Butler Harris 1766."

After Harris died two brothers, John and George Barrow purchased the estate. They lived there from 1775 until 1835. For a while it was nicknamed "Brothers Plantation" but was subsequently changed to "Sunbury" the name of their home in Kent, England. John Henry Barrow planted the first Teak tree at Sunbury in 1799. He also planted a grove of 300 mahogany trees, the first to be introduced to the island. Over one third of these trees remain today.

Sunbury was later inherited by the son of John Barrow, Colonel Johan Barrow; he was in charge of the 1816 slave rebellion which cost the plantation almost 4,000 pounds in damage. In 1835, when the Hon. John Barrow migrated to Newfoundland, the brothers Thomas and John Daniel purchased the estate out of the Court of Chancery for 33,000 pounds after the abolition of slavery. The Daniels were absentee proprietors who owned many plantations on the island as well as a fleet of ships for transporting their sugar.

During 1896 Scotsman Alistair Cameron purchased the estate. After the death of Alistair's two daughters in 1980 and 1981 and with no offspring left, Sunbury House was eventually separated from the estate and sold to Keith Melville and wife Angela. The rest of the property was sold to Geoffrey Armstrong the estate manager.

The Melvilles both of whom were keen horse lovers started their horse drawn collection many years ago, eventually becoming the most comprehensive collection of antique carriages in the Caribbean. They also preserved the heritage of the house with their impeccable choice of antique furnishings and fixtures.

Sunbury Heritage House has survived many hurricanes boasting walls of 2 - 6ft thickness. The diaries of William Senhouse describe Sunbury as "one of the best built plantations in Barbados". The sash windows are protected by jalousies on the outside and storm shutters on the inside.

I love the winter light and how it changes, shifts so quickly. this is the view outside my window, although I went outside to take it. The light vanished in a matter of minutes. This was near sunset at 3:22 p.m.

I will be travling this week to warmer climates to visit children. I will have limited computer access, but will try to visit your streams during the week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A snowy path threw the trees

le difficile

en tout retour

est de contourner

les emplacements

des feux d’anciens espoirs

et de voir aux mêmes fenêtres

d’autres fleurs

il y a des vitres

qui ne font pas miroir

où de l’autre côté

l’on peut voir

le vide de la route au soleil

et la poste fermée à midi

comme la marée montante

diminue l’île

la peur isole

tout est dehors

même le dedans

mais de ces gués frileux

il en vient

une longue lumière

marcher sur ses pas

pour fouler encore

le corps du chemin

et déplacer

dans la poussière

les pierres incertaines des mots

Poesie: Heather Dohollau

--------------------------------------------

the difficulty

on each return

is to avoid

the blackened traces

of the old hopeful fires

and to see in the same windows

other flowers

there are window-panes

that are not mirrors

where on the other side

one can see

the emptiness of the sunny road

and the post office closed at noon

as the rising tide diminishes the island

fear isolates

everything is outside

even the inside

but from these shivering crossings

there comes

a long light

to walk in one’s steps

to tread again

the body of the path

and displace

in the dust

the uncertain stones of words

Poetry: Heather Dohollau

Translation: qarrtsiluni.com/