Our first week in New Orleans was not much as we spent most of the time in the RV – rained almost every day. The second week we drove around Lake Pontchartrain (didn’t take the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as it’s a toll bridge and quite expensive for RV’s – plus there’s a section that rises quite steeply and I was a little nervous to take the ‘Bagel Bagel’ over it). Our destination was the Abita Springs Resort and RV Park, a membership park. We had received an ‘invite’ to try it out free for 4 days, so decided to take them up on the offer.Read More →

Still resting up from our Chile trip, and waiting for a Winnebago repair appointment with Camping World of Denton, we took advantage to visit and do things with Andrew and Michelle. It was the last weekend of March with beautiful spring weather. So we headed down to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on White Rock Creek with Michelle and Canaan (Andrew had to work) to enjoy their opening weekend.   Grima, Mitch and Canaan – Got a wheelchair for Grima as her foot was injured and was hard to walk.     So, more to come. Love to hear what you have to sayRead More →

While driving I’m always looking, looking for that next image to capture. Of course, driving on freeways is one of the most frustrating experiences as most the time you’ll see something that, by the time you find an exit and return to the spot, if that’s even possible, the light has changed, the sky has changed, something has changed to remove the magic you saw driving by. That’s why I love to get off the freeway and try out the side roads and get lost a little. And sometimes, I love going right to a predetermined place to see what’s there.   Just past JosephRead More →

Stopped by the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on the way back from Las Vegas to Texas. Also gave me a chance to test out the new Nikon D810 and Tamron stabilized 70-200 f/2.8 lens, along with some low light photos from my Sony A7 with stabilized 24-70 f/4.0 lens. I’ve got to admit, those stabilized lenses are exceptional and high iso quality is getting better all the time. To a great extent, they have allowed me to not have to carry a tripod much of the time, although the old tripod comes in handy with long exposures. The first ten images were takenRead More →

Was in Vegas for a photo trade show (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International – WPPI). Took some time to wander around the strip to take some images.   From atop the MGM parking garage, a great view of ‘City Center’   Another view, I think capturing the essence of the strip.   The Bellagio Hotel creates these amazing scenes in its Conservatory and Botanical Garden area. When I was there they had a Chinese theme.   Of course, the laguna and fountains in front of the Bellagio are world famous.   Moon peeking out over the Eiffel tower and Paris Hotel Vegas style   Close-upRead More →

The beach dominates much of Viña’s life – both in terms of tourism and attitude. High rises front the coast along Calles San Martin and Jorge Montt. The city has done a magnificent job developing the beaches with beautiful stretches of parks with biking and walking paths along the entire stretch from Muelle Vergara to the amphitheater at Playa Marineros, enticing locals and tourists to come out and enjoy.   Graffiti adorns concrete blocks buttressing Muelle Vergara   High rise apartment buildings overlook Playa El Sol’s sand and sun seekers.   The sign says “Beach not suitable for swimming” – but the water’s too alluringRead More →

We stopped off in Quintero on the way back from Caleta Horcón – just a hop, skip and a jump down the coast. Quintero is a Peninsula with a rocky coastline. We drove to the Playa Los Enamorados and walked a trail with beautiful sea views down to the Playa Las Conchitas.     Walking from where we parked the car, we came by the ruins of something, not sure what, but made for interesting pictures.   Playa Los Enamorados   Contemplating what to do next on Playa Las Conchitas   Grima snapping away, unfortunately with some graffiti marring the scenery   I wish weRead More →

Horcón lies 43 kilometers north of Viña del Mar. If you drive to the end of the avenida Principal you’ll find yourself at one of the most picturesque coves in Chile – Caleta Horcón. On warm summer days, the small beach is littered with sunbathers intermixed with old, colorful fishing boats. Lining the beach are a host of restaurants featuring typical Chilean seafood and other delicacies.     Restaurant row   Beachgoers among the fishing boats   Ad hoc wiring – seems to work   Beach cacti   At the south end of the cove is the “Puente de los Deseos” (Bridge of Desires), adornedRead More →

Leaving the summer heat of Santiago, we travelled back to Viña del Mar, about 73 miles west of Santiago, where we stayed in an apartment on the 15th floor of an apartment building on Viana and Quillota, a block and a half from the Plaza Vergara. I’m not generally fond of tall buildings, especially in a city known for violent earthquakes. We were calmed somewhat by the fact that Chilean’s have learned to construct some of the best earthquake ‘proof’ buildings in the world. But, to our unease, we could feel vibrations from time to time from the construction of a large building next door.Read More →

When I first arrived to Chile in 1966, the downtown was the place to be, center of culture and business. It’s still a bustling, busy downtown, but much of the glitter has worn off somewhat and moved more to the East of town, into the Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura neighborhoods. Lately there has been a considerable wave of immigrants to Chile from other countries in South America, changing the typical ‘Chilean’ character of the downtown area.   Riding past the Fine Arts Museum on Ismael Valdes Vergara   Hanging out on the steps of the Fine Arts Museum   Tourist photographing statue of theRead More →