North America

Photo of the Week: Notre Dame

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IMG_4331Montreal, Quebec

As you know, last week we took a family road trip to Quebec for Thanksgiving.  If you’ve ever been in a car  with 6 people plus countless luggage for an  eight hour drive, you’ll know it’s an effective torture method.  Aside from the  fact that my body was contorted into many weird positions, the trip was a success.  We had a little too much food, but that’s to be expected on a Nguyen get-together.  We also got to visit a few nice churches a long the way.

Notre-Dame is the famous basilica located in the heart of Old Montreal. The interior is filled with intricate wood carvings that would rival any European church.  The altar is back lit with a deep blue light, creating contrast and drama to the elaborate design.  The only drawback is that there is an admission fee of $5 to get in, which makes this feel less like a holy site and more like a tourist stop. 

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.

Photo of the Week: Disappearing Act

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IMG_20130908_123840227_HDRSan Francisco, USA

This picture was taken a few years ago on a short trip to San Francisco.  By some mishap, I managed to leave my camera’s memory card at home.  So for the whole weekend, we had to make do with our cellphone camera. We decided to walk over to the Golden Gate bridge and take a few pictures, but as you can see, the whole bridge was covered in thick grey fog.  From this vantage point, it looks like the bridge is disappearing into thin air. 

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.

New York: Street Arts

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Kelsey Montague – Equality Lifts

I’ve taken pictures of street art and graffiti from all over the world, but I’ve yet to really explore the beautiful urban art in my own backyard.  Every time I walk around the city and see something interesting, I find myself without my trusty camera. Since I was stuck in the city last weekend,  I made it a point to go walking from the Lower East Side  to Soho,  a few areas known for its street art. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: In Flight

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IMG_0641La Fortuna, Costa Rica

This picture of a hummingbird in flight was taken in the small village of La Fortuna in Costa Rica. This volcanic region is known for its tropical rainforest, beautiful waterfalls, and natural hot springs.  There is tons of wildlife in this fertile area, and walking around town you can see the humming birds buzzing around, feeding on the flowers.  

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.

Atlanta: Aquarium

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Atlanta might be land locked, but in the center of the city is one of the largest aquariums in the world; housing more than 10 million gallons of water, and home to tens of thousands of fish and other sea creatures representing several hundred species.  This was where we spent a hot Saturday afternoon exploring the aquatic life. The ticket price of $38.95 per person is steep, but it includes access to a dolphin show, 4D movie, and many other exhibitions. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Promenade

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IMG_4456Brooklyn, New York

Home sweet home.  I never get tired of looking at the New York skyline no matter how many times I see it, from all the different angles and vantage points. This particular picture was taken from the Brooklyn Heights promenade with the idyllic view of the Brooklyn bridge spanning the East river to lower Manhattan on the other side.  This park is a great place to get away from the bustling city and hosts many activities from yoga sessions to free movie nights. It is also a great place to take your date on a romantic stroll.

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.

Atlanta: Graffiti

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This past June, Fausto went to the annual Society of Actuaries Health meeting in Atlanta and I tagged along.  While there, I had a chance to explore the city’s small but growing street art scene. Atlanta has hosted the annual street art conference called Living Walls, The City Speaks, where artists from all over the world are invited to create street art.  The large murals are often painted directly on the side of the buildings throughout the city, with permission from the owners of course.

Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Brooklyn Bridge

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IMG_4442Brooklyn, New York

As much as I love to travel, I also love spending time in New York City, especially when the weather is nice.  One of the best ways to get to know the city is by walking, and you can walk across this iconic bridge spanning from lower Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn. The Brooklyn bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the United States. 

There are designated walkways and bike lanes on the bridge so you’ll never have to worry about oncoming traffic, but make sure you walk off to the side to avoid the bikes that come whipping by. Once you get to the half-way point, stop at the lookout points where you can check out the Manhattan skyline. 

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: Underwater

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2015-06-14 (2)Atlanta, Georgia

This week, we happened to be in Atlanta for a work conference and decided to visit the famous Georgia Aquarium.  It is one of the largest aquariums in the world, with a 6.3 MILLION gallon tank, housing whale sharks and manta rays amongst hundreds of other species of fish.  If you are so inclined, you can even go scuba diving in the tank and get really close and personal with the sharks. The general admission of $40 per person was a bit steep, but the experience was well worth the price.

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.