Docks at Manaus Central Market

Manaus, Brazil ~ April 25, 2007

I posted a photo of boats at the Manaus Central Market docks last year, but that was the "travel brochure" shot. In reality, the docks were fascinating and picturesque, but also hot and littered with garbage. The water is the Amazon River. Here at Manaus, the Rio Negro and the Solimoes join together to form the beginning of what we commonly think of as "The Amazon." The trees we see across the water may indicate the opposite bank, or they may be on a very long island marking part of the channel at this point. The width of the river changes vastly depending on the season, and what were once river banks become islands or are completely submerged. According to Wikipedia, "The width of the Amazon varies between 1.6 and 10 kilometres (0.99 and 6.2 mi) at low stage, but expands during the wet season to 48 kilometres (30 mi) or more." I expect that 30 miles is nearer the mouth of the river, but in any season the Amazon has fewer distinct banks than most rivers. I'll include a few more Amazon photos this weekend.

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Monreale Cathedral Cloisters, Sicily

Monreale, Sicily, Italy ~ April 29, 2004

Monreale Cathedral Cloisters

I seem to be having "Monreale Day" here in Tapirgal's blog world. Please visit two more blogs for more of marvelous Monreale. You can also follow this link to see other posts about Monreale on Tapirgal's Daily Image.

. Animal Art Along the Way

. On the Pavement

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Standing Up Tall

Cambridge, Massachusetts ~ May 8, 2006

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Hello, Whale!

Monterey, California ~ June 26, 2005

Monterey Bay Aquarium

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The Scene

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

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Caterpillars

Tacoma, Washington ~ May 22, 2004

Point Defiance Park on Puget Sound

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One More Photo of a Grand Old Lady

Paris ~ October 16, 2008

This may be one of my last photos in a series paying homage to the landmark building and company that is (or was) La Samaritaine on the bank of the Seine at Pont Neuf. Look at the wonderful detail of the medallions among the gold letters and the way the windows reflect various hues of the sky.

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Captain Cook's Monument, Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii ~ September 25, 2007

Captain James Cook's plaque can be seen along the far side of the lava rocks in the foreground. This is the stunningly beautiful and now-peaceful bay in which he met his end.



Sorry, I had this one the right way up, and Blogger turned it. I tried a second time and the same thing happened. So as not to be here all day, I'll let you read it sideways. There is also a tall, more imposing monment that I didn't get a photo of. You had to kayak over a ways from where we were. We liked our spot, and we headed back before going to the tall monument.

As the morning advanced, more snorkelers arrived in kayaks . . .

. . . and the tide covered the marker in the rocks beneath the trees.

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Friendly Fish

Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii ~ September 25, 2007

At Captain Cook's Monument

I was mesmerized by the fish at Captain Cook's Monument. We paddled over in kayaks; the water was clear, the setting idyllic, and the fish not as skittish as in some other places. Here's another fish from that day.

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Foxglove and Scotch Broom

Fort Stevens, Oregon ~ June 2, 2007
Coffenbury Lake

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Ancient History: Ruins of the Greek Theatre, Taormina

Taormina, Sicily ~ April 25, 2004

We were not with the group, but we often found tour groups at locations such as this one. Most of them at this time of year were German groups. Lee would amble in close and learn something; however, not understanding more than a few words of German myself, I either read the book or wandered off to take photos.

If the clouds were not in the way and the picture showed a bit more of the distance, you would see the famous active volcano, Mt. Etna.

Any comments on the photo size? I just enlarged the format, but what I don't want is a blog that takes a long time to load. Let me know, OK? The old pix are the smaller size until I change them.

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Woman with Accordion

Paris ~ October 18, 2008

This goofy scene looks like something you would find inside an historic vaudeville show, not out on the street, but after all, it was Montmartre, and it seems all of Montmartre has become a circus. I didn't know that, because the last time I was there, it was gray, empty, and you could see across the square. I'm not saying it wasn't fun, but it wasn't the Montmartre I remember from previous visits. I think about these things a lot as more and more places become less real and more like Disneyland. But things change. When I was first there - finding something I wanted not to change - it wasn't the Montmartre of Picasso's time, either. In those days, Montmartre was a country village.

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Wailua Falls

Kaua'i, Hawaii ~ September 21, 2005

Wailua Falls

What you can't see in this photo are the cool Kaua'i chickens that were strutting around on the lookout point. Fortunately, I have one for you in this post.

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Native American Stone Ruins at Tuzigoot

Tuzigoot National Monument ~ April 2003

Near Clarkdale, Arizona

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Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Paris ~ May 5, 2004

This is one of my excuses for not taking the staircase to the top.

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