Our real vacation - wine country, day 1

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When we set out for the real vacation portion of our trip, the afternoon was just magnificent (see photo number 1). We took our newly rented auto across the Golden Gate Bridge toward Napa. Where we stayed (photo number 2) was the Napa River Inn, a fabulous B&B, where the breakfast was incredible room service. Anyway, we arrived early enough that we did some sightseeing along the Napa River, and downtown (photos 3 - 6). We ate dinner at an absolutely fabulous restaurant where the wine, the dinner and the dessert, as well as the company, were just spectacular, and we returned to our beds very contented, very full, and very happy. This was really the beginning.

San Francisco, or what I was able to see of it.

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This is another of those horrible slide shows that we all lived through, with uncle Earnest and his slide projector. Well, maybe not that bad. But on our recent trip to California, I was really only able to scratch out a few good photographic opportunities, the first few days, and mainly when we went down to the wharf for dinner. The weather was just perfect, and by and large the wildlife was cooperative (see the second and third pictures). We really did enjoy San Francisco, but what we saw the rest of the trip really made it for us!

Where have I been?

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Where have I been lately? Well, before my wife and I took off for the West Coast, I was exceedingly busy. So, it came as a great relief to leave for California, but for a few hours it looked kind of doubtful that we would even get to leave, as our plane sat on the tarmac at the Oklahoma City Airport, for about two hours, as they deiced our plane, and then deiced again - over and over again. When we finally took off - it was with enormous relief. Then we got into San Francisco, and we stayed at the "Grand Hyatt" hotel, not so aptly named, which had little to recommend it aside from their little bistro restaurant. But it was a pleasant walk to the American College of Physicians annual scientific sessions. The sessions were quite good, but at the end of them, I was more than ready to leave for our vacation segment of the trip - to wine country - Napa and Sonoma. More on that in later posts, but for now, just enjoy these representative photos.

Happy Easter!

Just a wish for all of you to have a most happy Easter, as I get back to work.

The stillness

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There is a common theme to these photos, all taken from our most recent Alaska trip - stillness. There is a silence so profound that you can see yourself breathe, and hear yourself think (to quote from my second novel). It is no accident that mountains, ocean and mist feature very heavily in these scenes. I wish you peace.

Longing and remembering

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Now why this collection? It is not an example of terrific photos, nor is it exemplary technique, neither are the photos from one of the magical places that I've been. This collection is mainly to demonstrate that the majority of photos that we take are to preserve certain feelings, certain longings that we have, and wish to remember. Photo number 1 was taken from a rather uneventful trip to Cape Cod, but it captures that certain something that was evanescent, which vanished with the afternoon sunshine. Photos number 2 & 3 represent how I felt about a vacation which we took as a family, to Beaver Lake, in Arkansas, and the special feelings that we brought back with us. Photo number 4 is simply of our pond, but taken on one of those perfect days, late in springtime, with that magical feel in the air and that special smell. And photo number 5 is simply a photo of a painting that I did, as a composite memory of our fabulous trip to Costa Rica, forever in our hearts.

City of facades

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My wife and I recently watched a movie, set in Jaipur, India, called The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It was a marvelous movie, with wonderful acting, but I noticed something while watching the movie, that I also noticed while we were in Jaipur - the whole city is full of facades. Some of the facades are good, and exemplify keeping the best appearances on the best within the city, while others - well, not so good. Now photo number 1 is of one of the more modern temples, and it overlooks the city, and it presents a facade which conveys the feeling that within one can find peace. However, photos 2 - 5 are from the Amber Fort, where the facade indicates not the peace within, but rather the silence bought with power. Photo number 2 is from the Palace of Mirrors, in which were kept the maharajah's wives and concubines, who were kept silent and under wraps. Photos 3 and 4 are of the elaborate facade, behind which were the wives, who were not allowed out, and not allowed to be seen, but could see out the little window, at the activities outside. Photo number 5 is of the mighty gate into the Amber Fort, which kept the world outside at bay. And there is the photo number 6, which is the palace of winds, and is just that - a facade, behind which were kept the women of the powerful rulers, who could see the festivities in the streets below. But there is no real palace behind the facade, nor has there ever been. Interesting.