We are looking to move back home to Pittsburgh soon. We haven’t lived there since 1978 although we have visited many times to see family and friends. There is a reason that Pittsburgh is frequently listed as one of the best places to live in recent years. Low real estate costs, reasonable taxes, one of the best medical centers and solid public transportation to list just a few. It is also a very clean city. People frequently see Pittsburgh as viewed from the North Side where you can see the confluence of the rivers. This is a more pedestrian view from the South Side with the deck of the Gateway Party Liner in the foreground. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial gallery by clicking here.
Tag Archives: Travel
Anne Frankhuis Amsterdam
The only time I ever went to the Anne Frankhuis I only had a two megapixel digital camera with me. It was in 2002 and their weren’t too many cameras that higher resolution and since I didn’t have high speed film, the digital camera was the only choice. As I looked out of the window staring at the tree that she saw every day and wrote about, a group of school children were marching by on their way to school. It struck me in an instant that she witnessed this same scene every day as she was cut off from being a children. It still brings tears to my eyes. You can see other work from my European Gallery by clicking here.
A Pan Asian Great in Orléans France
Our last stop in Europe was Orléans France. We had had a number of great pan asian meals in Paris including awesome Sushi. As we were touring Orléans it was way past lunch time and we were studying our map to try to figure out where all the restaurants were. A beautiful young French woman asked if we were lost and we said,no just hungry. My wife wanted to speak French to her and she wanted to speak english to us. She told us she was headed towards “restaurant row” and she would guide us. After walking with her and chatting for about ten minutes we came out in an area loaded with restaurants. To our surprise we found this wonderful Thai resturant and had a great lunch in Orléans. Visit my Europe gallery to seed more images by clicking here.
Good Night Kiss
Paris is the City of Lights and nighttime seems to be a social lubricant for kissing. As I am working on my book, I also realize that night time kisses in public are harder to capture. You can’t see as far and can’t use your flash so patience is a key. This shot was taken in Paris in 2011 and you can purchase a print by clicking here.
Dinner Kiss
There is something about Paris that causes people to kiss. People think of Paris as the most romantic city in the world. Like most big cities it has its share of crime, beggars,street hustlers,sidewalk vendors and shady people. However, when touring Paris with your spouse or significant other you just can’t help but kiss more. Maybe it is in the water or the wine? In any case here is a couple kissing in a cafe before diner is served. You can see more images form my European collection by clicking here.
Eiffel Kiss
What better place in all the world to kiss your sweetheart than at the setting sun in front of the Eiffel Tower. Buy a print of this or other prints from my Europe Gallery by clicking here.
Le Canard Confit
One of the best reasons to travel through France is the food. Sure the gardens are great and monuments are spectacular but the food rivals both. Even a simple meal in a Cafe is special and the food on the street is also worthy. Items that can only be purchased in high class restaurants in the United States are common in France like duck and rabbit. This is some crispy succulent Duck Confit at a Paris Bistro. You can purchase images form m European Gallery by clicking here.
Firenze Italia
Italy has a lot of beautiful cities but Firenze (Florence) is certainly one of the best jewels on the necklace. What makes it so special is it’s location in the mountains along the Arno river and its history of being the centre of Italian culture for so long. When your city can boast bridges built by Michelangelo, you know it is special. This is a view of the city from a park just outside taken during a brief rain shower. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial site by clicking here.
A Windmill in Paris
If someone would have told me there was a windmill in the center of Paris, I would have doubted them. Silly me because as we climbed the hill on Montmartre, there it was. Larger than life and looking more French than Dutch. It is right behind the Moulin Cafe and near the Basilica. You can buy a print of this image of my commercial site by clicking here.
Begin the Beguine
I first learned about Beguines when I began to travel to Belgium in the early the late 1980’s. My only previous reference point was my father singing Cole Porter’s “Begin the Beguine” when I was a kid. The Beguines were a religious order of the Catholic Church that focused on healing the sick and wounded. In 1776, the City of Bruges dedicated a new “Beguine House” and Chapel near the town center. It is beautiful, quiet and pristine place to visit while touring the city. Many Americans are drawn to the entry gate since the dedication date is also the date of our nation’s birth. It makes you realize how old Europe. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial gallery by clicking here.









