Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Bavaria on the mountain behind Schwangau Village. It is the castle that is frequently called “Cinderella’s castle” because Disney used it as a model for their movie fantasy. The reality is not like Cinderella at all. It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria who is known as Mad Ludwig. He lived in the castle only a short time before he was dethroned and sent to a sanatarium where he died mysteriously in a struggle with his therapist.

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Neuschwanstein Castle,

Neuschwanstein Castle,

Hohenschwangau Castle Redux

The fortress Schwangau is mentioned in historical records dating from the 12th Century. It stood high up on a rock on the site of the present 19th-century Neuschwanstein castle. Hohenschwangau castle was first mentioned in 1397 and stands on a hill below Neuschwanstein. This photograph of Hohenschwangau was taken from the balcony in the front of Neuschwanstein. The original was taken in the summer of 2011. I recently edited the image using tools from the Nik Collection and found the edited version to be outstanding. You can compare the two below. Let me know which one you like better.

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Hohenschwangau Castle Redux

Hohenschwangau Castle Redux

Scwangau Germany

Scwangau Germany

Morning Run

When I travel it is easy to take sunset pictures. I am out and about, alert, in the zone and ready for the light show. However, it has always been difficult for me to take sunrise pictures. I could blame it on my age but that would not be true. To take a sunrise picture you have to get up and to your location before the sun rises.

I love to walk (I use to run) in the morning after I have had my morning coffee. The morning is one of my favorite times of day. But then there is this guy. What time did he get up and start running? Who are the people that can do this? Are they human? It was dark when I got to the beach and I saw him run down the beach. This was taken about a half hour later as he ran back up the beach. He must be and A type!

Photographed at sunrise on a beach near Cancún.

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Running at Dawn

Running at Dawn

Resting by the Sea

Isla Mujeres is a small island in the Caribbean Sea, about 13 kilometers off the Yucatán Peninsula coast. The island is only 7 kilometers long. To the east is the Caribbean Sea and the skyline of Cancún. There are only about 12,000 permanent residents but it is very popular with visitors from the resorts of Quintana Roo. We rented a gulf cart and toured the entire island in a day. At one end of the island we found this cemetery.

It was beautiful and quiet and the most colorful and unusual cemetery we have ever seen. I have never seen a burial ground quite like this and it had made me want to research other modern Mexican cemeteries.Most cemeteries are drab and grey places. This place was alive with color and a celebration of the life of the deceased rather than a grey reminder of their death.

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Mexican Cemetary

Mexican Cemetary

Happy Independence Day!

This year as the United Kingdom declares independence from Europe, I thought it appropriate to republish this post from a few years ago.

I am so fascinated with American’s insatiable appetite for Britain and the royal family and apparent disdain for French culture. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Without the help of the French we would have never defeated the British and won our independence. So this year when you fire up the BBQ have a nice red wine with your burger and say vive la France!

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Independence Day

Independence Day

Reflections on a Hood

Everything looks different at sunset. I noticed the palm tree reflections in the afternoon as I walked up from the beach and thought, such a shiny car. At sunset I noticed the same car and thought, hmm I wonder if you could get a car painted like that, but of course you can.

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Reflections on a Hood

Reflections on a Hood

Golden Gulf Sunset–2016

I took a lot of sunset pictures this spring when we stayed at Sunset Beach in Treasure Island. Our balcony overlooked the Gulf of Mexico so I really didn’t need to do anything but open the door to see a sunset. Each sunset image is subtly unique and colors sometimes dramatically different. This one features a backlit Pelican.

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Gulf Sunset

Gulf Sunset

Surf’s Up!

I tried doing this a couple of times when I was young but just barely managed to kneel. I used to like body surfing and belly boarding though and remained mystified that human beings actually have enough balance to stand up on these boards and ride the waves. This young man was surfing before sunset on a Gulf of Mexico Beach near Treasure Island Florida.

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Surfs Up!

Surfs Up!

Capitol Door

To me it seemed like everything in The US Capitol was special and had some unique thought behind it. Everywhere there is art. Even the tunnels leading from the office buildings to the Capitol have art from high school seniors across America. There are huge painting and many sculptures. Even some of the doors are artistic displays like this one outside the Speaker’s Balcony.

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A Capitol Door

A Capitol Door

The U.S. Capitol

I can think of many political things to say today but in the spirit of this blog I will say none. Instead here is a lovely picture of a symbol of freedom. That’s it. Carry on.

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Storm Clouds over D.C.

Storm Clouds over D.C.