The beautiful city of  Salzburg, Austria. I have been to this wonderful place twice with my sweetie. We go there and never get bored of this city ever. So much history here. In the background is the Fortress which is nearly 1300 years old. Then in the foreground of the Fortress you can see the steeples of a 1200 year old Cathedral. Mozart was also born here. In the direct foreground of this photo is the Palace Gardens where Julie Andrews and the children of the Sound of Music danced and sang Doe-a-Deer. We will be heading back to this Beautiful city yet again in December, but this time we are bringing my daughter as a present for her 18th Birthday. Looking forward to bring back many pictures.    

Hi this is my first post.  I'm a virgin, so be kind.  Well, I was lucky enough to go to Portugal this past month.  I took a lot of pictures, and since the topic this week is Strangers, here are a few of the interesting ones I met. Man in Obidos Woman in traditional garb wearing the seven skirts.

Do houses have a soul? When we choose to buy a house or just to take a picture of it, we are certainly looking for something special. What can that be?
The size?
The architectural style?
Would we like a  terraced house or one located in the countryside?
Some would prefer to be near the mountains or at least to have some wilderness aroud, while others prefer the  tranquility of a lake or of a forest.
Some prefer to keep their neighbours close, while some others hide behind flowers.
Would the colour matter or its  charm and simplicity?

What would you prefer?

This has got to be my all time favorite sign, taken at a little biker bar in Pensacola, I dug it out and scanned it so you could have a laugh.  DO NOT TOUCH MEAT.  You just won't find that in your classier restaurants....

And some from my archives taken in Europe that are a little different....
Those Proper Brits...
Newmarket Saddlery
Beautiful Sign
Pricks and BMW's? (Now don't start in on me, I used to drive one, so I can say that, it was a joke!)
No Cellulite
Pharmacia
And one of my
Favorites revisited...it is too good not to post again.  Now I gotta go find some new signs!

Hope you got a grin!  

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Thinking about our new challenge prompted me to share some shots I took in Spain last year.  I was surprised at the amount of Roman influence still visible.  But then again, I guess the Holy Roman Empire stretched a long way.  Driving south of Sitges, we pulled off on a little roadside rest, and stumbled across this ancient Aquaduct that was built by the Romans. You could actually go up and Walk on it, so we did.  Farther south in Terregona, there are remains of a Cosiseum also built by the Romans.  It isn't as big as the one in Rome, but it does have a nicer view!  

One of the highlights of Spain for me was Traveling up the Mountains to the Monestir de Montserrat 9'th century.  It is on the highest point in Spain (4,055 ft.) and you can see The View of Barcelona in the distance.
The Waterfront in Gerona gives you an idea of their urban housing.  I will end this tour with a glimpse of Salvadore Dali's Museum in Figures.  The Upside Down Boat in front of the museum's sphere was a nice whimsical touch!  Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

For the Theme.... I was born in Wabash Indiana and moved quite a bit to and from Florida where I make my home now in Clearwater Beach.
I took my 1st self portrait using a car bumper..so you can see where I was heading in the art world. I have always wanted to be an artist since I was about 5, but that changed when I became Assistant to the President I have traveled to 20 plus countries and Europe is my favorite stomping grounds. I photograph the macabre Death is open for Business Landscapes Amalfi Coastal Storm and Flowers Blue Poppy and others, but my passion is  painting paintings I have a wonderful family and a great life...so what else is there?

My best friend Louis and I take a trip every year somewhere in the world.  A few years ago it was Ocktober fest in  Munich, Germany.   It was an amazing time, we saw the Glockenspeil, some great architecture and definitely some interesting historical sights like the Hofbrauhaus.  But we were there for Ocktoberfest.  The first sign were getting close was this crazy Horse ... around the corner from that was the Lowenbrau House located at the heart of the festival.  You'd never believe it but this is 9 o'clock AM and over 15K people are drinking!!!!  So, in all honesty se decided to go on a binge.  Well, that certainly deserves a
CHEERS! don't you think.
Next it was on a train going to Prague home of the famous Charles Bridge and great architecture street 1, street 2, square.   There were some absolutely beautiful colors , windows, statues,  flowers, trees and cars?
On the journey we met a friend Barb who took us through acorridor and up this incredibly long stairwell  to see an awesome  Church.   After that hike we went for a drink overlooking the squarefrom before.  We jumped a train to Amsterdam and as soon as we got there it was straight to a coffee shop where all memories where lost.

Thank god I have a camera.  

The Dancefloor

(hope it wasn't too long)

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It all started when Lee, Jim and I decided that a trip to Ibiza (via Barcelona) was in order.  We should have know trouble was ahead of us right then and there!  We went anyway.

Out apartment in Barcelona was located off a really cool little road, but unfortunately was clogged up by a film crew making a movie of some sort.  That didn't slow us down a bit.  We headed straight for the Beach which was topless to our suprise! (family site, no smutty pics here!)  After a day of that, we did a little sight seeing and hit up this museum, which was completely boring! So we jumped a train to Valencia!

It was around Jult 1st, which happened to be the month of flowers there.  Our hotel looked out over this little square.  We were only there for a day before jumping on this  boat  to Ibiza - sweet!  Upon arrival, we saw a bay full of Yachts which seemed to be a good omen (for some strange reason!)

After checking into our new digs, we headed straight for club Eden for Judgement Sunday - it was an initiation tot he club scene in Ibiza.  Soon after cam Manumission at Privelage, After hours at Space and afternoons at the Cafe del Mar wehre we met some great  >.People.  One friend with blue eyes was esepecially trouble!!!  One highlight was seeing DJ Tiesto's album release at Amnesia.  This is about what I  remember of the evening/morning! Acutally that's the memory of most nights in Ibiza!

The next few days we hung out and took day trips ... here's me on one of those excursions  The other times we just hung out in the  West End or cruised up the main drag.   After 2 weeks in Spain, seven spent in Ibiza, it was time to come home and let the sun set on our most eye opening adventure to date.

Thanks for reading, take care ... the Dancefloor

(fyi - all the pics are small because I had to scan them and the file sizes messed up - sorry)

More photos from my month long stay in Italy. We stayed at villa Mondomino, built by an Italian poet on a cliff overlooking the Med. Fiore Villa Mondomino Villa Mondomino 2

Fiore is between Positano and Amalfi near Ravello. Ravello Ravello 2 Ravello 3 Amalfi Amalfi 2

The locals were very acceptable to leisure. Italian Conversation Italian Shopkeeper

The countryside was a photographers dream. Hayfields Hayfields 2 Vineyards

A side trip to Pompeii and the eternal remains of the inhabitants. Pompeii Pompeii 2 Pompeii 3

And finally a side trip to Assisi. Assisi Assisi 2 Assisi 3

I hope you enjoy.

Had some time off in Scotland a few weeks back. Ok, I know these have been done before (by almost everyone!) but you have to have a few 'rocks in water with mountain reflection' photos in your own portfolio! But they do exactly what they're supposed to and thats remind you just how beautiful our planet can be. Two are Loch Lurgainn just north of Ullapool one and two and the third three is Loch Doon in Galloway.

My family and I visited England, Wales, and Scotland this past summer, and these are some of the pictures I took in Northern Scotland.
Olympus 35mm 50-110z lens w/ UV filter.

Edinburgh Framed Abbey Stairs Melrose Abbey 1 Melrose Abbey 2 Melrose Abbey 3 Peacock (no zoom) Loch Lommond Castle 1 A Forest Path A River A different Castle (still inhabited)

Blue trees taken in Torino, Italy :)