I was enjoying the colors in the trees so much I decided to take a picture of them. Let me know what you think.
Feb 012017
Jan 312017
My Vietnam trip was capped off by two nights in Sa Pa. We took an overnight bus to get here, which provided me with a “bed” about 1 foot too short for me to be comfortable. The first day we spent there it was so foggy you couldn’t see more than five feet in front of you. As a result we found a small bar that was occupied by other travelers in a similar predicament. We spent the whole day there.
The next day we decided to go for a hike regardless and, thankfully, the fog lifted a bit. We were accompanied on our walk by two Red Dao women and one Black Hmong lady. They were members of the ethnic tribal minorities that live in the area.
At the end of our walk we bought a few trinkets from the ladies and I asked to take a picture. One of the red Tsao ladies was happy to pose. Here she is below:
Jan 302017
This photo was taken from my balcony at the Hotel Villa Honegg in Switzerland on a cool morning.
Jan 292017
I’m in Berlin and it’s really cold so am spending most of my time inside. Yesterday I took a hop on hop off tour bus and got as far as museum island. My first stop was the Berlin Cathedral which I ducked into really to warm up but quickly discovered it’s incredible. I spent about an hour there before moving onto the Altes Museum and then the Neues Museum. I wanted to go to the Pergmon museum but the line was too long and I didn’t want to stand still that long outside!
Jan 282017
I had a great time in Marrakesh last weekend, including a camel ride in the foothills of the Atlas mountains and a return to the food tour I went on two years ago. The picture below is actually from that tour two years ago. Unfortunately, the bakery was closed this time.
What you see below is the local oven where bread is baked. The locals don’t have ovens in their own homes. Instead, they prepare their meals for the oven and drop them at the bakery. While we were there we saw all sorts going in, most of all rows of sardines. The oven is effectively a huge clay room where wood is burned on one side. The operator spends the whole time in that small space in front of the oven entrance, being handed items to place in the oven.
Jan 272017
On my first night in Manarola I was provided with a complimentary bottle of prosecco. I promptly plopped down on my balcony to enjoy it while the sun set. I took this photo just as the last light disappeared behind the horizon.
Jan 262017
Hoi An, in Vietnam, is known for its tailors. Everywhere you look there are shops offering custom made suits. I decided I wanted to get a couple and proceeded to struggle to pick a place. Eventually I gave up and walked into the one I was closest to. Before I knew it I was measured up and had picked out a blue pinstripe material and a light grey. I was only in town for two more days so they’d have to work fast.
I went back for a fitting the next morning and once I was marked up for further adjustments I went to the beach. I returned the next night for the final fitting. There were still a couple of issues so the girl in the store grabbed me by the hand and guided me to a shop full of sewing machines.
There, I met the tailor who quickly marked the suit up in chalk and set to work. While I waited for him to finish I asked one of his assistants if I could take a picture of him working. He agreed and here’s the result.
Jan 252017
It seemed like a fairly still day while walking around Cassis, but when I went out onto a pier to take this picture I felt like I was on the verge of getting blown overboard.
Jan 242017
I had heard from friends who had visited Delphi that it’s far hillier than you’d expected. Sure enough, it’s built on a steep slope, with the stadium at the top. On the way up to the stadium you get this view back over the theater, giving me a good excuse to stop and catch my breath.
Jan 232017
If you google Riomaggiore you’ll find photos taken from this spot numerous times. It’s one of the viewpoints that first got me to notice the Cinque Terre and eventually decide to give the area a visit. While I try not to take the same photos taken by everyone else, I don’t think anyone can disembark from the ferry to Riomaggiore and not stop to take this picture.
