Travel Photos

2006-07-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

Safeco Field...Seattle, Washington.

2006-07-31T21:59:00.000-07:00

Quebec City, Quebec (Scanned Print)

2006-07-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

What are all these people waiting for?

2006-07-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Maybe The Who are giving a free concert...

2006-07-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

...or Johnny Depp's walking down the Red Carpet...

2006-07-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

...or Air Force One is about to land in this field...

2006-07-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

...nope, just this: Three minutes of Old Faithful erupting in Yellowstone National Park.

2006-06-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

The American Southwest has beautiful rock formations such as this in many areas. This particular formation can be found along US 84, northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

2006-06-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

The World Famous Planet Follywood in Folly Beach, South Carolina.

2006-06-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, California is a beautiful place that perfectly captures the stereotypical Southern California image.

2006-06-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

These avalanche/snow sheds are along the Canadian National tracks in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. That is the Thompson River flowing through the scene.

2006-06-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite bridge across the Seine River in Paris, France. It is the Pont des Arts, a pedestrian only bridge bustling with people. From this bridge you get the best "I am in Paris" view, including Notre Dame, The Louvre and of course, the Eiffel Tower. (Scanned Print)

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 3: The Back Bay

2006-06-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Back Bay is the most elegant neighborhood in Boston. Created on landfill over a 50 year period in the mid 19th Century, it doesn't have the same sense of history that Beacon Hill and the North End have. But it more than makes up for this in style and charm. The streets run straight in the Back Bay, a novel idea for the city of Boston. And this creates a wonderful sense of scale that other Boston neighborhoods lack. Stand on Beacon Street, or Marlborough Street, or Commonwealth Avenue and the Back Bay seems to stretch forever. Block after block, street after street of tree lined, brownstone flats. Marching as far as the eye can see. If I could live anywhere in Boston, I would definately choose the Back Bay.

2006-06-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

Multiply this picture by 1000 and you will have the Back Bay.

2006-06-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

This is a typical street in the Back Bay.

2006-06-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

All the homes in the Back Bay have this warm, inviting feel to them. Most have impressive front doors and foyers. Winding staircases lead to the upper floors.

2006-06-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

The main shopping street in the Back Bay is Newbury Street. It is lined with outdoor cafes and exclusive, trendy shops.

2006-06-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

All along the north end of the Back Bay is the Charles River Esplanade. This is a great place for a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, with terrific views of Downtown Boston and MIT across the river in Cambridge.

2006-06-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

The Public Garden, located at the east end of the Back Bay, is a lovely park that features the Swan Boats, a fixture in the Garden since 1877.

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 2: Beacon Hill

2006-06-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Beacon Hill is the oldest, most historic and most exclusive neighborhood in Boston. It is full of narrow, tree shaded streets and is a perfect neighborhood for walking...if you don't mind a few hills. It's probably the image most people have in mind when they think Boston. It's history is centered more around Black Americans than the Revolutionary War. It was the first neighborhood in America that was predominantly occupied by middle class Blacks, going back to the 1790's. The Abolitionist Movement in the decades before the Civil War was especially strong here. You can pick up a walking tour of the Black Heritage Trail at the National Park Visitor's Center. Nowadays, the color of Beacon Hill is green, since it's become a very expensive neighborhood to live it. But it's still free to walk around. Enjoy.

2006-06-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is a typical street scene in Beacon Hill, narrow streets, brick sidewalks and gas lights.

2006-06-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting mix of historic homes in Beacon Hill, with Federalist style homes such as the one to the left, mixed in with older wood homes from the 1790's.

2006-06-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

In the center of Beacon Hill is Louisburg Square, the most exclusive property in Beacon Hill.

2006-06-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

Acorn Street bills itself as the most photographed street in America. And it is an interesting street that is very representative of Beacon Hill.

2006-06-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

But there are many other streets in Beacon Hill that are just as interesting as Acorn Street.

2006-06-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Charles Street is the main shopping street in Beacon Hill. It has antique shops and restaurants, as well as hardware stores and grocery stores. Many of the stores have interesting signs over the door...

2006-06-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

...such as these for a restaurant and a children's store.

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 1: The North End

2006-05-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

Boston, Massachusetts is called America's Walking City. And for good reason. I know of no other major US city that has such a compact downtown core, with wonderful livable neighborhoods radiating out from it like spokes on a wheel. There are 3 neighborhoods in particular...Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, and my personal favorite, The North End. I'll discuss the other 2 neighborhoods in future posts. The North End is a distinctly Old World neighborhood that is predominantly Italian. It has sights and smells everywhere you turn. It's a compact neighborhood, but it's easy to get lost in the maze of side streets. Boston's Freedom Trail, a red brick trail that connects 16 of the city's most historic sites, cuts through the heart of The North End...

2006-05-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

...going to such historic buildings as the beautiful Old North Church...

2006-05-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

...and the Paul Revere House. However, after you're through being a tourist, pull yourself away from the red bricks and head off mindlessly in any direction...

2006-05-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

...and you will discover winding streets...

2006-05-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

...narrow alleyways...

2006-05-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

...religious shrines...

2006-05-31T18:58:00.000-07:00

...and wonderful details everywhere you look.

2006-05-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

Be sure and finish up your day by strolling Salem Street...

2006-05-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

...and Hanover Street, sampling wonderful pastries and having dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant.

Historic Charleston..Then and Now

2006-01-26T20:59:00.000-08:00

I was just looking through a collection of Civil War photographs that are located at the Library of Congress website. They had a collection of photos taken in Charleston, South Carolina right at the close of the war in April 1865. In looking through the pictures, a bell went off in my head...I had taken very similar pictures just last April, when we visited Charleston on vacation. So I began looking through both the historic and my modern photos, and found some that were taken at virtually the same location, creating an interesting then and now look at Charleston at the end of the Civil War in 1865, and 140 years later in 2005. Here are a few examples...

2006-01-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

The old Market House was built in 1841. An enclosed market was located directly behind the building. It still is, and is a favorite with locals and tourists alike.

2006-01-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

This modern photo was taken from the exact same vantage point. And no...I hadn't seen the historic photo previously! The beautifully restored Market Hall has housed The Confederate Museum since 1898.

2006-01-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

This historic photo was taken looking north on Meeting Street with St. Michael's Church in the middle distance. St. Michael's was built in 1761, and George Washington worshiped here while visiting Charleston in 1791.

2006-01-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

This modern view shows St. Michael's Church through the trees. The beautiful columned building in the foreground of both photographs is The South Carolina Society Hall, which was built in 1804, and has served as the Society's headquarters for over 200 years.

2006-01-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

This historic photo is from the East Battery area at the southern tip of Charleston. A dismantled gun is in the foreground in the middle of the street.

2006-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

This is a slightly different angle taken from the same corner. The yellow house with the curved fence is the same house in the foreground of the historic photo. The pink house is still directly behind it, and you can make out the tall white columns of the third house just past the pink one.

2006-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

Lake Powell, Arizona.

2006-01-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

St. Augustine, Florida is one of the oldest, most historic cities in America. This is St. George Street, a pedestrian street which cuts through the historic district. While it is an interesting street to stroll along, I find it way too touristy, lined with t-shirt and ice cream shops.

2006-01-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

Almira, Washington is one of those towns that time forgot.

2006-01-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

This graceful bridge is the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, Oregon. It was built in 1936.

2006-01-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

I love finding little pieces of history like this. Back in the 1920's and 1930's most storefronts had the store name in tile at the front door. This well preserved example in located in the town of Snohomish, Washington.

2006-01-10T21:22:00.000-08:00

City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico.

2006-01-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

Street sign on the Penha Building in Willemstad, Curacao.

2006-01-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

This is one of the many sidewalk cafes in Quebec City, Quebec. (Scanned print)

2006-01-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

This picturesque little canal is just off the High Street in Canterbury, England.

2006-01-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

Out for a stroll in Savannah, Georgia.

2006-01-03T19:47:00.000-08:00

As the locals would say..."The mountain is out." Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

2005-12-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all...

2005-12-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

...and to all, a good night.

2005-12-20T20:39:00.000-08:00

Sunset along the Northern California coast, north of Fort Bragg.

2005-12-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

The Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, Washington is an interesting place to stroll amongst the historic buildings.

2005-12-20T20:31:00.000-08:00

Rush Hour at Port Everglades, Florida. Ahead are 3 cruise ships departing on their Caribbean cruises. We are on the deck of the 4th, the Dawn Princess.

2005-12-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

Square Tower House is just one of the many impressive Native Indian ruins located in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

2005-12-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

English Bay, Vancouver, British Columbia on a chilly, but sunny day in December.

2005-12-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

The little English Village of Denton is located in Southeast England, not far from Canterbury.

2005-12-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

This interesting shot was taken a few years ago at Disneyland in California. It shows the Columbia ship and the Mark Twain paddlewheeler both high and dry, sitting on their tracks, when the Rivers of America was drained for re-furbishment.

2005-12-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

This is Fort Spokane, part of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, located in Eastern Washington. It was established in 1880, and later became an Indian Boarding School.

2005-11-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

This colorful rock formation can be seen driving along US 84, northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

2005-11-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

Looking up Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina, towards St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

2005-11-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

The City of Miami, Florida has this neat transportation system that loops around the downtown core. Called the Metro Mover, it runs every few minutes and it efficiently takes you anywhere you want to go in downtown Miami. And best of all...it's free. Every city should have one.

2005-11-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is a close up of the Basilica of El Valle, a beautiful church located on Isla Margarita, Venezuela.

2005-11-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

A steep side street in Quebec City, Quebec. (Scanned print)

2005-11-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

Brewer Lane, Richmond, England. The London Borough of Richmond has a number of these narrow passageways that connect one street with another.

2005-11-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

This pretty fountain is located in Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia.

2005-11-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

This oldtime ad was found on the side of a building in Rossland, British Columbia. This form of advertising was very popular in the early 20th Century. If you look hard, you can still find them peeling away on many historic buildings.

2005-11-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Downtown Bisbee, Arizona. Note the huge B on the mountainside behind town. Many towns in the American West followed this tradition of putting the first letter of their fair city on a nearby mountain for all travellers to see. Why, I don't know.

2005-11-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

This is the Thunder Mountain Line Excursion Train that runs out of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, north of Boise.

2005-11-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

Driftwood along the Oregon Coast in Lincoln City, Oregon.

2005-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

I took this shot along US 2 in the small town of Douglas, Washington, which is located in the central part of the state.

Travel Photos

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 3: The Back Bay

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 2: Beacon Hill

Boston's Neighborhoods Part 1: The North End

More posts on the way soon

Historic Charleston..Then and Now