The Big List of Adventures


wa state entry

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Northwestern Washington State.  The Olympic Peninsula is a majestic wonder of nature.  No other place in America can match its diversity in terrain and weather in such a compact geographic area.  You'll find easy access for exploring lakes, waterfalls, rivers and rain forests.  In a short span you will can see rainforest, snow capped mountains, fishing areas, and historic lodges.

bc canada flag

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Kaslo and Nelson British Columbia, Canada.  Kaslo enjoys the distinction of being called British Columbia's Prettiest Town and the Switzerland of the Americas...and justifiably so. Elegant Victorian era buildings, tree-lined streets and magnificent lake and mountain views give credence to these titles bestowed upon the community of Kaslo. 
Nelson is set in the natural beauty of the Selkirks, many artists and writers make Nelson their home.
  The downtown area is packed with good restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, local shops, and small art galleries.
   

bc canada flag

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Victoria British Columbia, Canada.  A short ferry boat ride from Port Angeles Washington and you are in the harbor area.  Either walk or drive on the boat and 90 minutes later you are in Canada.  A very walkable city with historical buildings quaint restaurants, museums, pubs and parks.  For those adventurous folks; walk on the ferry and stay a day or 2 while overnighting in a hostel.  An adventure you will remember for years.

palouse location

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Southeastern Washington. Also known as "The Palouse". Most people do not realize this area covers approximately 3000 square miles. Mostly farmland with crops including wheat, barley, lentils, and canola. But there is a thriving timber industry as well. Suprising to some are the educational opportunities with 2 large Universities and numerous Colleges and a burgeoning Technology Sector all nestled, hidden in plain site, within the rolling hills. Also to mention.... the town of Palouse. Yes it is not just an area but it is also a town.

And there is no place like home.

wide eyed

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Wide Eyed View of the World. This is a compilation of images from around the world. Not your normal photos but a wider view of the areas; large Panoramas. From Seattle to Greece and everywhere in between.

Zihuatanejo Mexico

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Zihuatanejo Mexico.  Not a common name when it comes to vacation paradise in Mexico. You hear Cancun, Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa. Yes all beautiful in their own rights; beaches, condos hugging the shore, local trade crafts, beer and great food. But Zihua offers more. Near Ixtapa, it is nestled in a protected bay. An old fishing village, a haven for sailboats, sport fisherman and the occasional cruise ship. Yes some condos but more of a small town feel when it comes to the atmosphere.
 So grab a Pacifico and enjoy!

italy tag

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Just a taste of Italy, and not just in reference to the food. The views, history, people, places, wine, water, food and song all play off of each other and make Italy a magical place. History and beauty are at every turn. This gallery shows a minor portion of what I saw but never the less it is all magical and shows the many different facets of the country.
"Goda di questa festività per i vostri occhi !"
[Enjoy this feast for your eyes !]

Images taken September/October 2009.
josev tag

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The Old Jewish Cemetery lies in the Josefov, the Jewish Quarter of Prague in the Czech Republic. It was in use from the early 15th century (the oldest preserved tombstone, the one of Avigdor Kara, dates back to 1439) until 1787. Its ancestor was a cemetery called "The Jewish Garden", which was found in archaeological excavations under the Vladislavova street, New Town. The numbers of grave stones and numbers of people buried there are uncertain, because there are layers of tombs. However, it has been estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones presently visible and there may be as many as 100,000 burials in all. A powerfully emotional place for a persons of any belief.

 

Images taken October 2006.

 


london tag

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London England, The United Kingdom;
home of a Queen, Princes, Princesses, a couple of Henges, an Eye, and a giant Tube. Mind the Gap. A small part of the known world that has major contributions to finance, historical significances, and diversity. Started in the seventh century and having grown to almost 8 million people and 300 different spoken languages it is one of the 4 major financial centers in the world, (Tokyo, New York, and Paris are the remaining). There is plenty of history, architecture, people to admire; and not just in London, (Bath and Salisbury are also shown).

Images taken October 2006.

prague tag

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Prague, or Praha as is proper , is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is no longer referred to as Czechoslovakia. Since splitting from the Country of Slovakia the Czech Republic stands on its own a jewel in the middle of Europe. Kidnapped by communism for 40 years, Prague has returned to the capitalist fold to become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Largely undamaged by the ravages of WWII, its cityscape offers a smorgasbord of stunning architecture, from the soaring verticals of Gothic spires and the buxom exuberance of baroque domes to the sensuous elegance of Art Nouveau maidens and the chiseled cheekbones of Cubist façades.

Images taken November 2006.
 

bone chapel tag

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Wikipedia

Kostnice (Church of Bones), Kutna Hora, Sedlec Ossuary, Prague. Kutna Hora was once one of the most important towns in Bohemia, home to rich silver mines that made the Bohemian King extremely wealthy. The town prospered during the 14th century, and the population soared. There are remains of 40 thousand people in the Charnel House. So why were so many corpses buried here? 1278 the Cistercian abbot of Sedlec, Henry, traveled to Palestine and the ‘Holy Land’, bringing home a sample of earth from Golgotha which was later, upon his return, sprinkled over the grounds of his local cemetery. The grounds were immediately considered scared, and hence became a much sought after location for relatives to bury their dead. In the 14th century, the Black Death spread the bubonic plague across Europe and now 30,000 bodies all wanted a resting place within the sacred grounds. Such vast numbers of dead led to the creation of the ossuary in 1511 by a half-blind monk who gathered up the bones to be stacked up within the ossuary, making space for new corpses, which were soon taken up by more victims from 15th century Hussite Wars.

Kostnice - Church of Bones Click here!!

Images taken November 2006.

budapest tag

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Budapest, capital city of Hungary,
is actually 2 different cities. Split by the Danube river; the Buda side is the west and more hilly side of the city, while the Pest (Pesht) side is the more commercialized face. With remnants of World War I and II along with the uprising against the communist rule in 1956 this country is coming back and is moving into the future while still maintaining its past. In 1987, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the cultural and architectural significance of the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue.

Images taken October 2006.

espen tag

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Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," Eastern State Penitentiary quickly became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in the young United States. It is estimated that more than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's wagon-wheel, or "radial" floor plan. Some of America's most notorious criminals were held in the Penitentiary's vaulted, sky-lit cells, including bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone. After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971, and now stands, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.
( text from
www.easternstate.org )
Please tour the website at your convenience.

Images taken May 2009.

philly tag

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What do you think of when you hear Philly? Cheese steaks (Pat's or Geno's), Rocky Balboa, the Liberty Bell? Yes all of those are here, but there is so much more to this jewel of a city. From the shores of the Delaware river to the country sides of the Pennsylvania Dutch and beyond. Hundreds of years of history is a short walk around the old part of the city. But don't forget the Eastern State Penitentiary, Reading Terminal Market, the riverfront or the zoo.

Images taken May 2009.

chicago tag

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The city of Chicago, sitting on the south shore of Lake Michigan, holds a massive amount of history in its aire. Many highs and lows have plagued the city throughout is history. But through good times and bad this city rebounds and continues on. This rich history is peppered with bloodshed, championship victory's, smoking embers, and rivalries that are passed from generation to generation.

Images taken April 2009.

morocco tag

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Morocco, occupying the northwestern coast of Africa, but not a member of the African Union but rather the Arab League. A relatively young country since being out from under the occupation of France in 1956. While thinking Africa, one would assume hot, but that is just a portion of this jewel. From the high mountains to the sea to the western edge of the Sahara there is something for everyone here.

Images taken November 2008.

seattle tag

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Seattle, the Emerald City, but without the man behind the curtain. Many things originated from this majestic jewel anchoring the northwest coast; Jimi Hendrix, Grunge Music, Starbucks Coffee, the Space needle, and the Pike Street Market. Just to name a few. Many people pass through this area and only begin to scratch the surface of the adventures you can have.

Images taken July 2008.

glacier tag

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Sitting at the edge of Northwestern Montana in the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is a gem of wilderness waiting to be explored. You can drive, hike and even take the Amtrak through the park. From every access point you can see the abundance of beauty and wildlife. Hike in further, look from above during a helicopter tour, or pull off the side of the road and you will never know what you can see.

Images taken Summer 2008.

sc tag

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South Carolina,
a tempting escape from the snow in December.  From rolling hills to the historical areas of the great south to the beaches of the Atlantic Coast.  A little of everything for everyone;  old plantation homes, museums, beaches, golf and tourist traps.

Images taken December 2007.

baja 500 tag

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The Baja 500. That statement invokes a variety of different thoughts; hot, grueling, dirty, painful. This 441 mile off-road course starting in Ensenada Mexico is a vicious desert race, with a 20 hour time limit and a variety of vehicles that race through the desert. From the dirt bike to the average 4x4 to the Elite Trophy Trucks. This popular race is only overshadowed by the Baja 1000 held later in the year. The fans make the race interesting since you can literally reach out and touch the competitors.

 Images taken May 2007.

   

athens tag

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Where do you start with a country like Greece? In the Capital city of Athens itself. Full of ancient ruins, high end luxury shopping, colorful street vendors, museums, monuments and of course the people. Since you have to start somewhere this is an excellent jumping off point. The gateway to the Greek Islands scattered in the Mediterranean is Piraeus. Just south west of the city of Athens.

Images taken September 2007.
   

santorini tag

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Santorini Greece. The more sought after tourist destination of the Greek Isles. Its tall cliffs, pastel colors and a view of the submerged caldera of a volcano provide for amazing views and beautiful sunsets. And with all the folks who gather to see the sunsets, it is truly a sight to behold.

Images taken September 2007.

mykonos tag

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After a few hours by high speed ferry, or even longer with the traditional ferry boat, you arrive a the picturesque island of Mykonos. Arid like the rest of Greece, but beautiful. Wonderful people, scenery and excursions abound. Small villages are scattered around the island and add to its laid back lifestyle. Walking through the streets is also an adventure, the occasional cruise ship brings people from all over the world for shopping, dining, relaxation and of course the sunsets.

Images taken September 2007.


amsterdam flag

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Amsterdam, the Vice City of Europe. Although there are different areas of the world that turn a blind eye to many activities, this city keeps things in check. Known as the Venice of the North this city has miles of canals, numerous "coffee" shops, and many different cultural activities for a true adventure. Images taken

September 2007.




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