Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week: Caryatid

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IMG_1334Athens, Greece

This picture was taken over 8 years go on our very first trip to Europe.  After years of reading about Greek mythology, I finally set foot on the Acropolis and it was every bit as glorious as I imagined.  Treading on the same well worn path that people used on their way to the temple thousands of years ago was unreal.  

At the top, among the ruins of the Parthenon, one can look down and see the city of Athens thriving below.  

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: French Quarter

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IMG_5704New Orleans, United States

This iconic view of the soaring St. Louis Cathedral and the statue of General Jackson atop his horse immediately brings to mind the historic Jackson Square located in the heart of the French Quarter. This famous landmark, originally founded in 18th century has been at the center of New Orleans history, from its founding during the early colonial years to the triumphant victory of the NFL’s Saints.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Stone Face

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IMG_4352Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Thom, also known as the “Great City” was the last capital of the Khmer empire.  The city was founded by Jayavarman VII, one of Angkor’s greatest kings who came to power in 1181 AD, ruling his city of over a million people. The spectacular Bayon temple was built at the heart of the ancient capital as the official Buddhist temple.

Pictured above are the distinctive stone faces atop the towers of the temple.  The serene smiling face of the bodhisattva faces outward, keeping a sharp watch at each compass point. After almost a thousand years, these stone carvings are still awe-inspiring to look at.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Fog

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IMG_4073Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Recently a friend came back from Iceland and it reminded me how much I miss this country .  I missed the savage beauty of the desolate landscape.  I missed the magnificent waterfall. I missed the time we spent at the Blue Lagoon.  We were there when the fog came rolling in over the thermal water creating a nice effect with the sunset.  

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Abandoned

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IMG_7481Red Hook, NY

On a photography excursion to Red Hook, I saw this old abandoned train.  I had to climb in and take a picture of the inside.  There was bright sunlight filtering through the windows creating a nice contrast against the grimy interior. Sometimes old broken things are full of character and beauty.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Love Story

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IMG_5988Galway, Ireland

We came across this idyllic scene of an abbey nestled in the surrounding greenery that looked like something out of a painting on our drive across Ireland. Kylemore Castle in County Galway is a Benedictine monastery, home to a community of nuns who came here in 1920 after their abbey was destroyed in World War I.  But before it became a monastery, it was the backdrop to an intriguing love story.

The year was 1849, Mitchell Henry and his new bride Margaret visited the wild Connemara on their honeymoon and fell in love with the place.  Mitchell promised his wife that he would build their dream home there. The construction of the castle overlooking the lake took thirteen years to  complete.  The happy couple lived there with their nine children until 1875 when Margaret suddenly passed away from an illness contracted on their holiday in Egypt.  She was only 45 at the time.  Mitchell brought Margaret’s body back to Kylemore and laid her to rest in a mausoleum built on the abbey’s ground, but he was heartbroken and couldn’t bear to stay in their home any longer.  When Mitchell Henry died in 1910, his ashes was brought back to Kylemore to be laid next to his love, in the place where they built their dream home and spent many happy years together.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Watercolor

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Antalya (21)Antalya, Turkey

Towards the end of our whirlwind trip around Turkey seven years ago, we visited the coastal city of Antalya, situated on western Mediterranean shore. The ancient city wraps around the harbor of the Gulf of Antalya. When the sun sets over the hazy blue mountain, it creates a breathtaking silhouette.  I was lucky to be able to capture this special moment.  From the cliff-top, the view looks like a watercolor painting.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Up in Smoke

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IMG_2892Hanoi, Vietnam

Nearby Hoan Kiem Lake is the well preserved Temple of Literature founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong as Vietnam’s first university. Now it is used as a temple, to honor Confucius and many of Vietnam’s finest scholars.  It is not unusual to see students in their uniforms coming to the temple to pray for good grades. 

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Hill Tribes

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IMG_2283Mae Hong Son, Thailand

This photo was taken on our trip around Thailand.  We visited the northern hill tribes near the northern city of Chiang Rai.  These indigenous people live the simple lives in remote villages where their livelihood revolves around farming and livestock. The tribes have been welcoming and hospitable to visitors, giving us the unique opportunity to see the ways of life which have been forgotten in the Western world. The tribes women are selling handmade crafts to help supplement their earning. This very happy lady was showing us her colorful bead work and insisted that I try on the traditional hat.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Reptilian

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IMG_0618Playa Conchal, Costa Rica

We were sitting on our balcony in Costa Rica,  when we were surprised by some movement in the grass and saw this guy come out to sun himself.  Iguanas are indigenous to this region and they tend to congregate together.  Did you know that a group of iguanas are called a slaughter?  Me neither, had to look that one up.  Iguanas are cold-blooded lizards, so it’s not unusual to see them come out during the day to warm up under the blazing sun.  Sitting there with its green-hued scales and prickly spines, this one reminded me of a dragon.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.