31 May 2009

mission accomplished

Times Square / New York, New York
As if Times Square wasn't already a disaster, last week Mayor Bloomberg began his 6 month experiment of closing off Broadway from 46th St to 42nd St to vehicular traffic. While the concept isn't so bad as the city can always use less taxi, bus and car traffic in already congested areas - whoever made the decision to put the cheap plastic lawn chairs out there so tourists can rest their asses and feel right at home - should be dismissed. If the objective is to make an already tacky area even more tacky - mission accomplished.

30 May 2009

la sandía

Carrera No. 4 / Santa Marta, Colombia
One of the best things about Latin America and the Caribbean is the abundance of fresh fruit year round. Though when in Costa Rica last week, while it seemed there was fresh picked watermelon (or la sandía) overflowing every roadside stand, it didn't taste nearly as sweet as what we get across the street at our local market. Perhaps ours are chemically-enhanced to improve that delicious watermelon flavor.

29 May 2009

plain & fancy

Lower East Side / New York, New York
In a previous posting, I commented about the contrasts that make Manhattan such a visually interesting place. Here's another great example.

28 May 2009

big boy tree house

Tree Houses Hotel / San Carlo, Costa Rica
Just returned from four great days in the Arenal Volcano region of northwestern Costa Rica. It was an adventurous trip made even more fun by spending our nights in a tree house in the jungle canopy. During the days in the jungle, I saw everything I went for: howler monkeys, two-toed sloths, tree frogs, a toucan - and even a deadly eyebrow palm pit viper. And some things I didn't ask for - like a flat tire on the rental SUV in the middle of nowhere in the scorching sun. Fortunately, after an hour or so on the side of the road trying to get a tire off that wouldn't come free, a kind gentleman who spoke no english rescued us two useless gringos. All in all - a fun trip.

27 May 2009

mix it up

East Village / New York, New York
One thing I love about New York - the city loves to mix up its architecture. The ugly blandness of mid-town aside, most of the city's other neighborhoods all seem to have an interesting mix of old against new.

26 May 2009

the afterparty

Old Town / Bucharest, Romania
Wondering what to do after that wild and crazy Memorial Day party? You can always hit the afterparty. Bucharest - a dichotomy of old and new. Similar to Berlin, it has a certain edge to it that keeps it interesting.

25 May 2009

shuckin' corn

Outdoor Markets / Otavalo, Ecuador
The Otavalo outdoor markets outside of Quito are famous for the variety of produce and other goods offered - all of which is locally produced. These happy women are obviously shucking corn in anticipation of the Memorial Day bar-b-que.

24 May 2009

layers

North Moore Street (Tribeca) / New York, New York
This column is certainly showing its age - with layer upon layer of paint - most of which is peeling off.

23 May 2009

trippin' to the tropics

Centro Histórico, Palacio de la Inquisición / Cartagena, Colombia
Off again trippin' for the long Memorial Day weekend (plus a few more days) - this time to Costa Rica. We are going to the area around La Fortuna which is the Arenal Volcano district in the northern jungles. Forecast is very hot and very sticky - perfect volcano weather. Oh, and the Palacio de la Inquisición (photo was taken in the courtyard) was the site of over five hundred religious executions and was only closed late in the 18th century. It is now a museum and memorial to the victims of the Inquisición.

22 May 2009

spotted fever

Highway 3B / Orchid World, Barbados
Another beautiful example of the multitude of orchids growing in their natural environment at Orchid World. There was a time not long ago when I had a fever for growing orchids - however, once I moved from upstate NY to NYC, they never seemed to do well. It's all about the microclimate.

21 May 2009

michelin man cometh

Fifth Avenue / New York, New York
Yet another shot of the newly renovated Guggenheim Museum at Fifth and E 89th St. Looks pretty good for fifty years old - kind like me.

20 May 2009

hopper

Millennium Bridge / London, England
What the the Tate Modern looks like while crawling across the Millennium Bridge.

19 May 2009

pax, baby

Charles Bridge / Prague, Czech Republic
There are 30 statues mounted to the balustrade of Charles Bridge in Prague. Most sculptures were erected between 1683 and 1714 and depict various saints and patron saints. Beginning in 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas and the originals have been exhibited in the lapidarium of the National Museum. I'm not very good at saint cognizance so I have no idea who this is.

18 May 2009

stoj!

Auschwitz I / Auschwitz, Poland
I recently finished reading The Boy in Striped Pyjamas which once again brought back to mind the atrocities carried out at the three concentration camps built by the Germans in Auschwitz (or "Out-With" as it is called by Bruno). Millions upon millions of people were systematically murdered here, primarily Jews but also non-Jewish Poles, Czechs, Yugoslavs, French, Austrians, Belgians, Dutch and many others.

17 May 2009

variegated greenery

The Medieval Walls / York, England
From the top of the medieval city walls of York, I shot into this variegated Norway Maple tree growing up against the stone. I've seen alot of variegated vegetation but I think this is the first maple I've come across.

16 May 2009

leaving the nest

Somewhere in the Caribbean
Today is one of those days you wonder to yourself "will it ever happen". Well yes, it does - today Rebecca graduates from Alfred University with Honors. Hooray - she is officially leaving the comfort of the "nest".

15 May 2009

welcome, my lovelies

Pollywogg Hollër / Belmont, New York
Tonight I am spending the night with this lovely. Deep in the woods - pitch dark - alone - in the wood loft. If I scream, will anyone hear me. She will - she once was one of us, afterall.

14 May 2009

converging spaces

Washington Convention Center / Washington, DC
I've posted several previous photos of the art and architecture of this building. For public architecture and for a convention center, it definitely has some unique spacial experiences.

13 May 2009

survival

Cortlandt Alley (Tribeca) / New York, New York
While we have Central Park and a plethora of other smaller pockets of nature scattered throughout the city, it is urban survivors like this that deserve the recognition. Manhattan is a harsh environment and when I see strands of green growing out of concrete pushing upwards to find both sunlight and nourishment - I wish them nothing but success.

12 May 2009

jesus saves nyc


Franklin Street (Tribeca) / New York, New York
One thing to say about New York City, there's lots of interesting street art - some good; some not so good.

11 May 2009

sea of yellow

5th Avenue / New York, New York
Oh to be back home in NYC - engulfed by the endless wave of ubiquitious yellow taxis.

10 May 2009

pretty in pink

Plaza San Martin / Buenos Aires, Argentina
The beautiful Plaza San Martin in the Retiro neighborhood of Buenos Aires was in full bllom of the Silk Floss Tree, also known as the "drunken tree". After taking advantage of the marvelously delicious and inexpensive Malbecs, I can appreciate the name.

09 May 2009

argyle the airedale

The Arboretum @ JMU / Harrisonburg, Virginia
I was scrolling through the thousands of photos I have taken and came across this great dog shot. It was right around this time of year; I had just gotten Argyle through Airedale Rescue and we took a road trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia to visit one of my kids at James Madison. She had been a neglected pup and was loving the new found attention.

08 May 2009

full sail ahead

On the Waters of the Caribbean
What more needs to be said - the sheer beauty of sailing the Caribbean speaks for itself. While I'm not heading to the Caribbean, I am on my way back home to NYC!

07 May 2009

colonial cartagena

Cartagena De Indias Cathedral / Cartagena, Colombia
Located on the Plaza de Bolívar, the main cathedral of Cartagena is a beautiful example of Latin American colonial architecture - having been built in the late 16th century. The city of Cartagena De Indias was discovered by the Spanish in the early 16th century and immediately grew into a strategically located port for shipping and slave trade.

06 May 2009

fields of sunshine

Pinfold Lane / Kirk Smeaton, England
This time of years, fields upon fields of rural England are in full bloom with rapeseed, a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family). They are really quite stunning; from a distance the fields appear as vast carpets of brilliant sunshine. This was taken around 8pm against a setting sun.

05 May 2009

wired on the waterloo

Waterloo Bridge / London, England
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames. Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the River Thames, the views of London from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level. The view looking up is pretty cool, as well.

04 May 2009

stormy weather

Curbar Gap / Curbar, England
With a very early departure yesterday from Birmingham up into the Peaks District, I was able to catch a stormy morning sky as the sun was rising behind this stone barn. Fortunately, the rest of the day turned out nice.

03 May 2009

iconic architecture

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (5th Avenue) / New York, New York
From the Guggenheim New York website.. "Fifty years after the realization of Frank Lloyd Wright’s renowned design, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum celebrates the golden anniversary of its landmark building with the exhibition Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward, co-organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. On view from May 15 through August 23, 2009, the 50th anniversary exhibition brings together sixty-four projects designed by one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, including privately commissioned residences, civic and government buildings, religious and performance spaces, as well as unrealized urban mega-structures." Put it on your calendar.

02 May 2009

innocence

Soufrière, St. Lucia
After finishing up an obviously stressful day at school, this little one just needed the comfort of her thumb to get her the rest of the way home. We could all use a good thumbsucking now and again, I suppose - if it were only that easy.

01 May 2009

waiting for ..

C Train Platform @ W 23rd / New York, New York
It's a strange phenomena, waiting for the subway. People continually "bob" their heads out from behind the steel columns on the platform to see if they can spot a distant headlight in the darkness - as if it will somehow get the train there sooner.