CHURCHILL, CANADA - ALERT ON THE TUNDRA

An arctic fox cavorts around the tires of the Tundra Buggy, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon for any of the larger predators which lurk on the tundra.

PARIS, FRANCE - AFTERNOON IN MONTMARTRE

Afternoon on Montmartre. One of the more picturesque and walkable part sod a picturesque and walkable city (Paris), Montmartre is among the most fun and bohemian neighborhoods to simply lose yourself. Dozens of cafes, fun shops, and terrific people-watching in an area that is ever-so-slightly Paris' most important artists' enclave, giving rise to the Belle Epoque era.

Capping the hill is the magnificent Basilique du Sacre-Couer, 

with perhaps the best "on-high" view of modern Paris in the city.

Wander the streets, grab a bite of lunch, then take the funicular up to the Basilica to gaze out over the city as you watch the people go by. It's a guaranteed great day in Paris.

RESUMING NORMAL OPERATIONS????

Hey guys, I'm back. Hopefully not too many of you got bored and started looking elsewhere.

Real life intervened and we've been rather busy with unfun stuff lately. But I'm back and will begin reposting with more detailed and interesting posts..I hope.

Any way. To keep you entertained for one more day, here's a picture of a kangaroo doing its impression of American tourists.

Stay tuned!

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - STARBUCK'S BY THE SEA

Travel experts always suggest eating local.

What could be more local than a cup of Starbuck's along the Seattle waterfront?

JOSHUA TREE NP, CALIFORNIA - LISTEN TO THE WIND

The first of June. Already?

Finding myself in desperate meed of some desert time. In the desert you re-establish a sense of perspective and reality. As a kid I didn't like it. Too boring.

That was before I learned that every once in a while,

 you need to stop 

and listen to the wind.

PALMS SPRINGS - THAT KIND OF MORNING

It's that kind of morning.

Up at o-dark, in a bit of a fog.

(Photo taken in 2006. Palm Springs. But it seemed appropriate.)

CHESAPEAKE BAY, MD - SUNSET

Sunset on the Chesapeake Bay.

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - THE QUEENS' CITY

A decade ago, in 2006, the Queen Mary 2 paid a visit to her linear predecessor, The Queen Mary.

Too large to fully enter the inner harbor near the original queen (that's how much bigger she is), the QM2 floated in the middle of Queensway Bay, blowing her horn and receiving a blast from the original Queen in return. 

Since this original visit, Cunard has made a tradition of new ships visiting and paying respects to the Queen Mary, including visits from The Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

By the time of the RMS Queen Elizabeth's visit, the cruise ship port next to the original Queen had been depend  enough to allow her to dock next to her sister.

LUDLOW, CALIFORNIA - DESERT TIME

I have noted, a few times, that my
"escape zone" is in the Mojave Desert, a few hours to the East of the Los Angeles area.

There's a serenity there. A solitude. It puts you back in your place and 

settles your mind on the importance of things quite nicely.

Particularly at dawn or dusk, when the world seems to hold its breath for an instant.

As a kid I hated the desert. Too boring.

Now, though I would never consider living there,

the desert is one of my most important "Happy Places".

I hope, soon, to get a visit scheduled to help settle my unsettled mind.

EMERALD ISLES, NORTH CAROLINA - STORMY WEATHER

Late fall mist rolls in on the Emerald Island coastline, North Carolina.

NEW YORK, NY - SUBWAY IN THE RAIN

Late at night. The relative dryness of a subway station. Slightly stylized.

Maybe it will stop raining when we get to the other end.

LIFE TO DATE TRAVELS

Not sure if I've shared this before, but by the end of last year 

this was my life-to-date footprint for travel.

Three oceans, five continents, and dozens and dozens of items clicked off the NOW list.

Lots left to see, and some really cool things in the next few years 

once we refill the financial coffers after 2016...

Stay tuned for the fun.

Heading down to Laguna Beach today for a couple of days in the sun. 

I'm sure some shots will be posted shortly of this mini-cation.

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - SUMMER'S COMIN'!

The temperatures are rising and the days are lengthening. 

Can only mean that Summer is coming. And not a moment too soon!

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - ROAD TRIP

In our family road trips start at dawn or shortly before. The sun just peeks above the eastern horizon.

There's a strong smell of coffee in the car as we pull out and head for the highway.

The destination could be hours or even days away.

But the trips always start the same way.

Time for a road trip.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - WARNER BROTHER STUDIO ENTRANCE 4

It's funny. I live in one of the most dreamed about spots in the world, and yet it's rare I think to post shots of Los Angeles and environs.

We all know the term Hollywood as it refers to a district of Los Angeles. 

("What? I thought it was its own city!" Nope, sorry.)

What may surprise you further is that only one of the legendary film studios is actually IN Hollywood. Paramount Pictures. The other studio lots are sprinkled throughout the city and the San Fernando Valley.

The film LaLaLand partly takes place on the lot below. It's the Warner Brothers lot in the Valley, wedged between Universal and Disney.  Behind it are the wilds of Griffith Park, and beyond the hill lies Hollywood proper.

Thus endeth the movie studio lesson for today.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SNOWED IN

In my travels, I have only been snowed in and delayed once.

I arrived in King of Prussia, not too far from George Washington's famous Valley Forge, a day before the Eastern Seaboard was due to be hit by a very strong snowstorm. I knew before landing that I was going to be in the area for a few extra days.

Five days and two hotels after the originally scheduled departure, we were wings up and I was headed back tot he much warmer climate of Southern California.

Doesn't look too bad in the shot below, taken from my hotel room window, but this was only day two of a three day deluge. Next time I know this is happening, I'm renting a 4x4.

TRACY ARM FJORD, ALASKA - ICE, ICE BABY

The Tracy Arm Fjord lies an hour or so south of Juneau by boat.

The fjord was formed by a now-retreating glacier, but the ice river left 

behind deep canyons and scarps to mark its passing.

MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA - DESERT RESET

I love to drive, and the more open and isolated the road the better. It's a zen thing.

In particular I have found that a drive through the desert, 

with occasional stops to listen to the silence, 

is marvelous for rejuvenating the soul and mind.

It's a place to remind myself of my true place in this world. 

And the relative importance of various pressures in my life.

I cannot get there enough.

BRANDYWINE FALLS PROVINCIAL PARK, BC - CASCADE

This beautiful cascade is the Brandywine Falls in Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia. It's a short hike across level ground, and the views are stupendous.

EL DIA de la BATALLA DE PUEBLA

This week's Friday Martini is temporarily supplanted by a wish for a 

Happy Cinco de Mayo, or "Fifth of May".

It's really more of an American holiday celebrating Mexican culture than a Mexican holiday,

but it gives us the opportunity to get together and accent one aspect of the overall American Culture, which is, by design, a melting pot for other cultures and peoples.

In many ways we have lost our way and lost our pride in being that cultural stew.

As Travelers we learn to understand and value peoples who are different from ourselves, and appreciate what it is that they bring to the cultural canvas. As Americans we welcome them into our lands and our hearts, as is our cultural priority - at least as it is elucidated in our longstanding ideals. 

We haven't ever really risen as a whole to the best that is in us, but in our past our ancestors showed us the way, and gave us the tools with which to be that "Beacon to the World" we imagine ourselves to be.

We've always strived to be better.

So, in celebrating the Battle of Puebla, we get the opportunity to 

reach across the social divides and find what unites us instead of dividing us.

And since I don't have an easily-located photo of the Mexican flag, I'll opt instead for

a shell full of Mexican peppers in the colors of the Mexican flag. A toast to the spice of life.

Feliz dia de la Battalla de Pueblo. Feliz Cinco de Mayo.

Happy day of the Battle of Puebla. Happy Cinco de Mayo.