I traveled from Salamanca to Plasencia by bus as the rail system does not connect these. Looking back at Salamanca, my long-time favorite place in Spain, where I often have thought of purchasing a small second home, I now have very mixed feelings. All the charm of the old city and fabulous Roman to medieval … Click to View Photos & Read More →
From Valladolid I traveled the short distance to Salamanca on October 5; transport was on a slow local train that terminated its line just a few blocks from the famous Plaza Mayor of the city. By slow I mean the train only ran up to 100 mph, compared to the Avias which go 160 and … Click to View Photos & Read More →
From Ourense my train trip to Leon started with an unexpected 1 hour bus ride detour to a nearby town on the same rail line, as the train tracks out of Ourense were under construction. Leon was the ancient capital of Castile & Leon after successfully driving out the Moors in the 9th century. With … Click to View Photos & Read More →
From Santiago I traveled the short distance south to Vigo, a large fishing and cruise ship town on the Atlantic coast. Beautiful panoramic views were available to those who climbed the steep hill crowned by the Castro Fort. My apartment was on the pedestrian street Rua Principe, the main elite shopping district, directly across from … Click to View Photos & Read More →
My Spain trip started poorly, as have my last 3 international flights, with an early am notice that my AA flight Tucson to Dallas was delayed, putting at risk my international connection. I rushed to the airport and managed to get the last seat on an earlier flight, necessitating exchanging a first-class ticket for a … Click to View Photos & Read More →
After 2 years of Covid cancellations, and missing the 2022 season due to my retinal detachment emergency, I have made it to San Miguel this August for the annual Festival of Arts, with many classical chamber music concerts. I spent the first night of the trip stranded in Phoenix, courtesy of American Airlines, which somehow … Click to View Photos & Read More →
I last wrote from West Yellowstone. From there I moved on to Dubois, Wy and then to Buffalo. I had poor luck in and around Yellowstone with wolves, only seeing them my first couple of days in Lamar Valley. Black bears also were rarely seen, unlike prior years. It is possible it had something to … Click to View Photos & Read More →
I spent 2 days in Cody, then started my daily trips into Yellowstone mostly to photograph wildlife where-ever encountered. Driving through the East entrance, over the Sylvan Pass well before dawn, I first encountered a young grizzly on the highway through a very narrow canyon. The grizzly ran down the road in front of me … Click to View Photos & Read More →
I last wrote from Chinle on the Navajo Reservation – from there I have traveled and hiked (short hip-strengthening hikes) through Canyon of the Ancients, Canyonlands, Arches and Dinosaur Parks in Utah. All contain some of the most scenic colored sandstone cliffs and formations in the world. In Arches I never had visited the Landscape … Click to View Photos & Read More →
Hello. With the Covid threat marginalized, and being mostly recovered from retinal detachment surgery and hip replacement surgery within the last year, I am doubling down on traveling the road again. Currently roaming in the 4 corners area, I gradually am headed by car to Yellowstone, where I have reserved at least 17 days of … Click to View Photos & Read More →
Following the 3 months during which I could not travel after retinal detachment surgery, I have spent a number of weeks driving north, just planning destinations day by day. Most of my stops are places visited previously, but deserving of multiple visits. I have taken new photos of a number of out-of-the-way rock art sites, … Click to View Photos & Read More →
I last reported from Palo Verde National Park, and moved from the lowland dry tropical forest to the high cloud forests of Monteverde. I visited the Santa Elena Bosque Nuboso, the CuriCancha Reserve adjoining MonteVerde, and the Finco Ecologico San Luis over a 6 day period with guide Adrian. At the entrance to the cloud … Click to View Photos & Read More →
From La Fortuna I traveled to the northern shores of Lake Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica, dammed about 45 years ago for hydroelectric power. Now banks of wind generators also cover the northern hills. The gardens at my B&B and the lake shore provided a few new bird pics. It rained every day … Click to View Photos & Read More →
Hello. I have been in La Fortuna for 8 days. It sits just a couple of miles directly east of and under the Volcano Arenal, which was active as recently as 10 years ago. The volcano presents an almost perfect cone, visible about half the time and covered by clouds the rest. La Fortuna is … Click to View Photos & Read More →
Hello. I last reported on Tirimbina Rainforest on the Sarapiqui River. From there I moved just a few miles to La Selva’s Lodge on the Puerto Viejo River which controls a large swath of primary rainforest adjacent to the Braulio Carrillo National Park. This mostly is Caribbean lowland rainforest with a huge number of animal … Click to View Photos & Read More →