Colossus

The Colosseum is just amazing. It's astonishing that something so old looks so familiar to us today and when you discover all the nasty things the Romans did in there, you start to think really deeply about modern television and movies.


Anyway, here are a couple standard shots of the Colosseum. Whatever you think of what happened here, the place is amazing.

Little Cars...

While in Rome, we witnessed this convoy of Fiat's zooming by the Colosseum - we believe it was some kind of World Cup celebration/gesture. We've not seen this behavior in East Thetford before...

 

The Vatican

We toured the Vatican Museum while in Rome. It is truly amazing, endless, and not a little scary. This nasty little fellow was hanging over one of the doorways...

Łódź Poland

We've been traveling a bit lately and it's time to catch up and post some pictures! I spent a week in Łódź for work and was able to enjoy walking Piotrkowska Street (shown below) which is one of the longest commercial streets in Europe. It is full of cafes and restaurants, many of which are out on the street which is mostly pedestrian.

 

It is always interesting to see what is similar and what is different when you are in another country. I was certainly taken aback to see a sign, familiar in Vermont, for a snowboard shop!

Some of the older textile factories have recently been reinvented as an upscale shopping and entertainment experience called Manufaktura. The economy in Łódź seems to be booming; there is a surplus of well educated and affordable (compared to me for example) engineers which is attracting many companies to the area.

 

I really enjoyed my week in Łódź. There is an optimism in the air that I haven't felt here in the US for many years. Things are getting better and though many challenges remain (apparently you cannot safely park your car in Łódź without using a guarded parking lot), people are really enjoying themselves. 

Oh and the food was great! I got to have zurek again for the first time since 1999, I tried beef tongue for the first time and really liked it, and I was able to quench (momentarily) my fondness for Polish beer.

This last shot is from Liberty Square which holds a statue of General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a military polymath who served as the head engineer of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (responsible for securing Philadelphia as well as West Point from British attack) and whose statue graces Lafayette Square near the White House.
 

Emerging...

Hosta after hail...

It's been too long since I've posted a photo. The usual excuses apply. To remedy this, I turn to a reliable and beautiful Spring occurrence: our hosta - rendered in nearly black and white.

Our hosta has once again come surging out of the ground like a Saturn Five rocket. However, the other night we - and it - experienced some fairly severe, if short term, hail. The hail was roughly the size of moth balls and in it's short time on stage took it's toll on the hosta and our young maple tree.

The hosta marshals on; elegant in spite of it all and proudly displaying it's wounds.

Heaven.

Meg and I made a quick stop a couple weeks ago in Asbury Park NJ. which is crawling back from years of urban blight. Through it all, the Stone Pony has endured and we see that Southside Johnny will be there July 2nd with Steve Forbert opening. Road trip anyone?

Spring, Sun, Rain...

The other evening, after a fairly dismal, overcast, depressing and truly dank day, the sun suddenly popped out at about six in the evening. The odd things was, it just started to rain harder and harder! This went on for a few minutes and then suddenly the clouds descended and we experienced our first thunderstorm of the year. 

You gotta love the weather in New England!

Edwin Forsythe Wildlife Refuge...

While I couldn't resist the black and white conversion of Meg's photo below, this view of the Edwin Forsythe Wildlife Refuge from an observation platform in the otherwise pancake flat area gives a better idea of what it was like to be there. The salt marshes there are home to a gazillion different species of birds most of whom were feeding during our low tide visit. 

Jersey Shore...

 

We were lucky enough recently to visit the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge outside Atlantic City, NJ. It was a truly amazing place *full* of birds and other wildlife, all within viewing distance of the casinos. Meg captured this juxtaposition under heavy skies.

Skowhegan #9

My last picture from this walk through Skowhegan is one of the "nearly falling down" buildings on the downtown corner across from Skowhegan Savings Bank. It is hurting for sure but cast a colorful reflection in the early morning light.

Skowhegan #8

Downtown Skowhegan - early in the morning. Along with a head on shot of the J. Palmer Merrill building.

Skowhegan #7

The inscription on the Skowhegan Library. What a beautiful old building - though I think my Mom has told me that their roof needs some work...

Skowhegan #6

Another named building in downtown Skowhegan. It's interesting to me to think of the entire story behind such a building. What is the back story here? Who was A.B. Borden and what did they do? What was their connection to Skowhegan such that they not only built this building but decided to put their name on it? History is lurking everywhere.

Skowhegan #5

A shot of one of the really nice older buildings in downtown Skowhegan.

Skowhegan #4

The Island Dairy Treat is a fixture in Skowhegan. Here it is early in the morning getting ready for one of the first Sunday's of the year.

Skowhegan #3

This lovely little foot bridge is located behind the church which is across the street from the Skowhegan fire station. I've taken several walks over it - generally all early in the morning - and never seen a soul. It's a small suspension bridge with a wood platform and it talks back to you as you walk.

Skowhegan #2

The early morning water pouring over the dam in Skowhegan Maine. This is such a simple thing but I was completely mesmerized by it. The constant roar along with the endless variations in the way the water dances and bubbles goes on all day every day and yet is - presumably - never exactly the same.

I was also still a little sleepy so it was especially cool.

Skowhegan #1

I took an early morning walk around town last Sunday in Skowhegan, ME. It was a beautiful morning and the town was relatively quiet. Skowhegan is working hard to survive these very tough times. Businesses seem to be coming and going - with perhaps a bit more going than coming. It is a very handsome old downtown with some well kept buildings alongside those in danger of falling down.

Over the next couple of days, I'll post more photos from this walk. This is a shot of the downtown strip from across the Kennebec river.

Storefront...

Foggy View...

Time Off...

We're almost to spring here in Vermont and the snowplows are getting a well deserved rest...

Tree on a rock...

This big hemlock lives just up our driveway a couple hundred feet. Over the last three or four years, we've had a number of very strong wind storms which have toppled many trees in the area. This guy, despite being relatively exposed has weathered them all.

I'm still shooting exclusively with my new 50mm f1.4 lens, trying to learn both how to compose with a 50mm fixed lens and what light capabilities this fast lens gives me. So much to learn...

Vermont Mailbox...

Morning Tree...

Spring...

WRJ morning...

I had the opportunity to stroll through White River Junction early in the morning. Here is the Gates building caught against a foreboding sky...

This is also the one of the first shots I've taken with my new 50mm prime lens. It's going to take some time to get used to using a fixed lens but I'm very excited to be shooting with such a sharp, fast lens.

Foggy morning at work...

Monk

This little guy was busy filling his cheeks this morning and then running over to his hole and filling his pantry. In this picture, he's regarding me before running over to his hole and then...

...vanishing into it!

Morning Snack...

Vermont Fog...

Chair...

The Old Post Office...

The Korean War Veteran's Memorial

Figures from the Korean War Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC.

Figures reflected in the wall of the same memorial...

Inscription...

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial...

Meg took this picture combining an empty Vietnam Memorial with the Washington Monument.

World War II Memorial...

Capitol Redux...

The White House in the morning...

The Mall...

Air Force Memorial...