Sunset - WOW!!

I have said it before and I will say it again - Sunsets are my favorite times to shoot.
Someone once looked a sunset photo of mine and said that it was beautiful, but what is your subject. Granted there was no person, no mountain, no foreground, no etc. just the clouds and the changing light. If that isn't interesting enough to find a "subject", I don't know what is. Depending on the amount of wind and I guess your position on earth that would determine the speed of the setting sun, everything changes and often dramatically every few seconds. I have shot several hundred exposures (not counting the fact I usually shoot HDR with at least 3 frames per) during a sunset, just marveling at the changes I see.
Last night I looked out my door and ran to the beach for sunset. It had rained yesterday, bringing clouds to SoCal that it normally doesn't have. I was a little late getting there and saw some incredible moments sitting at a traffic light. I remember looking at the cars next to me and seeing that no one was even looking at the view that was right in front of them.
So here is the first shot I made when I got to Mandalay Beach, looking toward the Anacapa Islands.

This is a few minutes later - I only shot 150 images last night - I just watched a lot.

And this one is the last shot just as I was leaving to go home to fix dinner.

As you see, it is a constantly changing light show. If I was inclined to be an early riser, I would try to compare the views of Sunrise with Sunset.

Here's a shot of the clouds during the sunset that just looked interesting to me. Subject: Clouds!!

For you techies, all shots were three exposure HDR processed with Photomatix Pro 5; then back to Lightroom 5 for final touches.

Enjoy

Come visit the website

I have been working on the website. New look, more pictures - yes, I have been able to upload more of the Summer Trip.
I invite you to stop by:
http://www.pixstix.biz
Let me know your thoughts and remember the shopping cart is always below the photo.
Best

Jet Lag

Here it is Saturday and though my body arrived in LA Monday night after about 21 hours of traveling, my mind is just now beginning torealize it is back in SoCal.
Holloween was fun watching my granddaughter being the little Princess she is and stalking the neighborhood to get candies. Fortunately, her mom only allows her to have two pieces.
Next week I must begin work on some of those photos from the trip that I just dumped onto the hard drive, but haven't even looked at. I am afraid that Rome was left alone.

 Here is a shot taken at 6 AM Rome time from my plane as the sun was rising.

And here is sunset over the Pacific as I headed intoLAX about 6:30 PM, PST

 These were taken with my iPad Mini, with the new upgrade iso, and they are not too bad.
More to come,so stay tuned.

Time to go Home

What have I picked up while on my "expedition"?

1. Patience is a virtue, but you waste a lot of time achieving it. I can't tell you how much time I have waited for idiots, who have no clue that other people inhabit this world, to move out of a shot. 
2. Croisants in Italy have powdered sugar and a filling.
3. You have to lock your hotel door from the inside, it is often not a automatic thing, and you have to lock it on the way out. Twice around.
4. Crossing streets in Italy is a game of intimidation. Make eye contact and force them to stop while you walk across, otherwise they will have the advantage and never let you go.
5. Traffic lights are sort of there just to add color to the intersection. Few people pay attention to them. If no one is ready to go when the light changes, they keep going.
6. Scooters are everywhere and worse than cars. They sneak in between cars.
7. If there is a space of more than 5 feet in front of them, Italian drivers try their best to hit 100KPH.
8. Remember when you sit down at that beautiful patio table that you will be surrounded by smokers. It is the only restaurant seating that allows smoking. And it seems EVERYONE smokes. Walking the street is contact cancer.
9. Always use the front or rear cars on the subways and metros, as the majority get on in the middle, and that's where the pickpockets work. Don't let anyone slow you down getting on board, cause they are taking your goods. PUSH THROUGH!
10. I haven't met anyone that a simple smile and a laugh won't help translate a language barrier.
11. The food in Europe is healthy, fresh and good for you. American food is trying to kill you!!
12. Caffe gets everyone going in the morning, and by mid-morning most are crashing and nodding off. Then they light up and keep going.
13. The trains are great in Europe. Even in Italy where they are never not on time - the passenger is either early or late!
14. There is so much to see and do here, that it is overwhelming. Calm down and don't expect to do it all. Plan on coming back.

There's more I am sure but I am packing my bag for that 6:30 flight tomorrow and with an hour's drive to the FCO, and two hours ahead of international flight, I up at 3AM. Then it's three flights and a drive to Ventura. Let me see if I can find a shot to fly home on.

Saint Peters on left, Castel St Angelo on right

Castel Saint Angelo

Another old Ruin in Rome

Ciao to Roma, Farewell Europe - It has been fun and I promise to return!!

Roma

I got here Monday evening, went to my Airbnb apartment and then the troubles began. To cut a long story short, I moved out this morning and checked into a hotel that is already superior in so far as they have a room with a window. When the dead plant on the table at the apartment to welcome the guests wade the room look good then you can guess the rest. Airbnb is having troubles with it properties in NYC and other places, this could be part of it. No one is checking the validity of the properties and if they are what they are advertised to be.
Changing High Horses here.
I went out yesterday and rode the Hop On, Hop Off bus to get my bearings, and Rome is large, but not undo able. I look forward to my next few days here and the end of my expedition and returning to SoCal on Monday.
I have to go do some laundry and have some lunch, so I just leave you with this one shot of Saint Peter's Square last evening and say

Ciao

 

Warning: Don't change High Horses in Mid-Live Streaming

For those of you who can remember the original phrase, I hope you see the humor in it as I did when I thought of it. I had just heard that CBS was going to be starting a live stream. Now there will be yet another "news service" that will be ranting about all kinds of things Especially during these last weeks before midterms.
For those of you who didn't recognize the old saying, uttered many times during my youth, as it doesn't fit the three letter, two finger typing lexicon so favored by the young iPhone generation, I would say to ask your parents - but studies have recently suggested that it's not the number of words they speak to you during infancy, but the quality and complexity of the words that matter in the making of intelligently conversant adults. In other words you are just as stupid as your parents!
Oops! I changed horses again, didn't I?
Ciao

Leaving Sorrento Tomorrow

I have been in non-wifi world again, but have busy anyway. Sorry no photos today as I'm using my mini at a Pub up the street from my hotel. Got to get up early and try to avoid the pickpockets at the Napoli train station. I took the ferry to Sorrento when I arrived to miss them, but yesterday I went for a bus ride to Positano, Amalfi and then Solarno and decided to train back to Naples and on to Sorrento on the Circumvesuiana train, so of course they tried to hit me getting on to the little train. This Eastern European girl body blocks me on the way into the car and then stops right in front of me. DuH! she's a setup for someone to hit my pockets. Well, I just did a very un-American move - I pushed her out of the way and went to the back of the car and out of the way. She was able to get my side pocket zipper down but my move kept her partner from getting my phone. She did get caught by an American girl with her hand in her purse and she started yelling and shouting. Americans 2 - Pickpockets 0.
There will be so many photos to upload to this site when I get back, it could take until my next trip.
I'll be off to Messina in the Deep South and then back up to Rome.
More later
Ciao

Sorrento

I got here yesterday from Orvieto thru Napoli. No Photos of Naples as I didn't want to wear my camera around my neck traipsing thru town to the ferry terminal. I decided on the ferry after hearing all the pickpocket/robbery stories that take place in and around the terminal. I know that train stations and tracks are not welcome areas in all cities and tend to be the last places to get upgrades and reconstruction. It appears to me that Naples has extended that area to include the whole of the city. It's dirty. It needs repair, and there are a lot of people out of work.
I again am staying in a hotel without wifi - you get what you pay for - though the room is good (four towels on my scoring method) so I am using my iPad to provide a hotspot for my mac. It's all about sharing.
Sorrento is a city on a bluff that is one of the oldest in Italy. Far older than Rome as it was started by Etruscans and then Greeks very early on. I am learning that they a renown for their wood inlay art and of course limoncello. Had some last night at the little cafe where I ate. I mentioned it to the waiter/owner and he says "I make my own." I don't use yellow lemons, I only use green lemons and I have them marinate for six months. He gave me some as I was leaving, and now I am spoiled. It was so smooth, no bitter aftertaste and went down very easy. I forgot to mention he uses 95 proof PGA.
As I stepped off the ferry last night, I noticed the sun beginning to set over the bay and quickly grabbed my camera. Have I mentioned how much I love sunsets?
Tomorrow more exploring.

Ciao

It's Friday Already!?

I have been in the small town of Orvieto for the last two days and have enjoyed the locale greatly. The food has been wonderful. Case in point. Does Truffle have a season? If so, this is it. When you can go to the little pizza place/ pub and get a bacon and truffle pizza for 6 - yes six - euro, then I would think that they are plentiful and cheap. I have been eating the black little beauties as often as I can and I am finally able to really distinguish its taste - and I enjoy it. Truffle on pasta. Truffle on toast. Truffle on veal. How can I have it today?
Yesterday was the village market day and lots of produce and lots of used clothes as well. Morning fog gave it a bit of a weird feel.

Yep, That's a whole roasted pig

Then it was off to Civita by bus. Now the buses in Italy are also the local transport for everyone and when school is in session, the local school bus. Kids ride free on all transport from buses to trains. The short 16 K ride took almost an hour as we stopped at many little villages along the way to drop off kids (after making a detour to the school in Orvieto). It is about a mile from where the bus drops you off to reach the Civita and many of my shots I took were for no reason other than to stop and catch my breath on the climb. The Civita is on a pinnacle that once had a natural causeway joining it to the larger area. Now that bridge is gone and there has been a concrete one built in its place. My big take away from Civita - If you like cats or are a vet who does spading and neutering, then this is you town. They are everywhere!

I'm having some trouble uploading photos now so I'll try for one last one, as it is time to get out and eat some more truffle. Tomorrow it is off to the South and Sorrento.

Sunset over Orvieto - Oh, this is a 6 image HDR, not my usual three.

Ciao

David

Hey, the US dollar has been up against the Euro for about three weeks now. Whoopie! It's costing me less for the same amount of Euros.
I have been using my Firenze card to see the sights of Florence for the last two days, today makes three and that's the total. The problem has been that with repairs and UNESCO in town, many places are closed for a day or two and that makes my card a lot less useable. The Duomo Museum is closed until next fall.
The one big bright spot was the recommendation to go to the Museo Accademia Friday night after seven. The day rush had been cleared out and I went to dinner and strolled over there about 7:30 and there were about a dozen other people there. No one! I walked into the museum and went to the hall for David, turned the corner and there he was at the end of the hall and no one between us. What a spectacular sight. It was amazing to view this statue that we have heard about and seen photos of and video about, but nothing prepares you for the actual sight. To be there virtually alone to view the statue at your leisure, walk around it as often as you like and not have someone bump you out of the way or get in your frame.
Here you go:

Got to go and see some more sights, but it will be hard to match this one.

Ciao

Question: Why are the Japanese so narcissistic?

Yep, I'm back in the tourist mainstream and I'm sorry that I may be perseverating about this, but I've only seen a handful of Japanese who have taken shots without another Japanese posing for the camera. I evan saw a girl the other day walking with her iPhone in front of her and assuming she was taking a video of the neighborhood. When I past her I took a look and the lens was pointing at her not the neighborhood, very close and no background at all. Any ideas?
Well, it seems that the whole of Italy is in repair and restoration mode, and I get to witness it all. The Baptistry is totally covered, though open, the Duomo has cranes and scaffolding and the Duomo Museum is closed until next Fall.
I got in yesterday afternoon and did my laundry. Great ruin restoration there let me tell you!

Got down to the Arno for sunset, but since it rained, there was only a partial chance for a good sunset and it wasn't. Good evening views of the Ponte Vecchio. Good dinner and a good night's sleep and off today to get the lay of the land. I walked the streets of the old city, dodging tourists and tour groups and trying to see past the construction. Hey, It Is Florence!!!
Walked to the Palazzo Vecchio and stood on the spot where there burned the priest who was tiring to burn the books and bring the people back to the old dark ages values. (Bonfire of the Vanities). Then on to the Uffizi Gallery next door and found Leonadro's statue covered in wire cages.
Found an 8 Euro lunch, with two courses and walked to the Piazzale Michelangelo and was rewarded with a breath taking view of the city. (Along the way I even saw some real life drama. The cops had cordoned of a section of trees by the river in the woods along the South side and when the crime scene folks showed up, I figured there was a body in there somewhere, though there were so many people walking around in there before they got there, the scene had to have been totally compromised.)
Decided to come back and download and have a little wine and get ready for tonight's sunset (fingers crossed) and tomorrow with Firenze Pass in hand, I take on the Museums.
I have decided to start playing the Lotto again when I return, just so if I win I can return to Italy and actually buy something in one of the clothes stores. You got to dream!!
Have I said how much I enjoy the food here? and the Wine? Though I must admit that I am doing as the ancient Romans did and I am now watering my wine, just a little!

Ponte Vecchio

Arches leading to the Ponte Vecchio

Firenze

Anyone know what this is - Bee or a Bird?
It flies like a Hummingbird, but the locals think of it as a bee.

Time to go see about tonights sunset.

Ciao

Montalcino

Sometimes I wonder why I shoot during the day. The 'Golden Hour' of sunset is so lovely that you are often rewarded with wonderful shots when the subject around the image is only so-so, but the sunset is fabulous.
I went to Montalcino yesterday to see one of the many mountain villages in Tuscany. I had thought of going to Montepulciano, but when I was purchasing my bus ticket the agent said no, you will like Montalcino so much more. Rick Steves put them both down as places to go, but who can argue with a local at the bus station. Besides, there was a bus to Montalcino sooner. I went to the train station to leave by bus, after going up that escalator from the hotel to the bus station on the city mount, and then down those seven escalators to the train station and got on my bus to Montalcino. The buses act as the local transport for people and stop at various stops along their route. The first such stop was the bus stop across the street from the hotel. Oh well, it was a lovely climb, walk, descent to get my ticket.
The village is a quiet little place with little to recommend it save the beauty of the hills around there and the vino that has made it famous. I didn't know! Let us just say that the money I had not spent on gifts and things for myself is now shot. Two cases of very expensive and wonderful wine is on its way to SoCal.
Time for a wonderful lunch and roaming around and then back to Siena. I asked the bus driver to let me off at the Hotel.
Tomorrow it is off to Florence and the crowds of tourists.

Time for lunch

Ciao

Siena

Attributing this to that 'someone said' column. Italian trains are never late nor are they ever early. Only the traveler is late or early. Yesterday I was early a lot traveling to Siena from Deiva Marina in the Cinque Terra area of Italy. (For those of you who don't know where I've been!!) I won't get into why I was told to go north to get my train going south, or the fact that doing so took an hour to get to where I started. Hey it's Italy and I'm on Holiday.
Traveler's are weird, I know I'm one, but it is one of those curiosities to me why you would go so far from home and sit with your travel companion and talk about the office gossip while not 'seeing' the place you are visiting. Two women from Austrailia (a long way from home) where doing just that as we past Carrara. I politely (yes, me) interrupted and pointed out the quarry on the hillside where the famous white marble comes from. An Italian woman next to me added how dangerous it still is to get the marble form the mountain, making it so expensive. One pulled out her iPad to take a photo, but was too slow and then they both went back to their gossip. To each his own!
Carrara to Pisa then on to Siena. The trains to Siena are diesel, the only ones I have seen so far on this trip. All others have been electric. Why here? The land was that of gentle rolling hills and Chianti grapes, small villages and peaceful streams. Very pretty.
Siena's train station is at the bottom of a rather deep valley and the city of course is on the hill. I lost count, but I think it was nine escalators that brought me to the top and a couple of moving sidewalks going up an incline just to change the pace. Thankfully I didn't have to climb to get to the city. At the top - no taxis. I like to grab one in the new towns to get to the hotel and then I will go exploring. No taxi - off walking. Maps.me is great to let me know where I am and where I'm going as you don't need an internet connection. My hotel was next to the city but down the hill. and down the hill and down the hill. I was ready to really get upset that the being' .2 miles from the city center' was ya! if you're a bird. But right across the street from the hotel is another set of six escalators to take you to the top again, so it's not that bad. The hotel, though called moderno, was modern in the post war era. The beds are clean, the room is large, the bath is large and I only sleep here. It's almost noon on a Sunday, and I'll leave you with a couple of shots of Siena form last night.

Duomo in Siena

Siena Humor - Eve and the Apple

Everyone Having Fun??
Couldn't resist - I saw this in a store window and it was just too...(add your term here)

Have a great Sunday

Ciao

Cinque Terra - The Movie Set

This is a comment I overheard as I was walking around Vernazza yesterday. That is the supposed most picturesque of the five villages making up the Cinque Terra chain of villages. To continue that metaphor, the villages and villagers all seemed tired of the roles they had been given for this year's summer stock play. They just wanted the tourists to all leave so they could hang up their 'costumes' and become the villagers of the little fishing village they love so much. Oh, yes the money the 'audience' brings in is nothing to sneeze at, but when you take a small place with a population in the hundreds and for four to five months they have to deal with tens of thousands of people, I can see how that would wear on you.
I wasn't able to get a room in one of the five villages - they were sold out - so I stayed just north in Deiva Marina and I am so happy I did. I stayed at the Hotel Clelia and it is a three star 'resort' near the beach there and they make no excuses for their catering to tourists. The room was the best I have stayed in so far, the staff very helpful and they have an excellent restaurant serving local foods. A little expensive, but it is a resort. The town, even here goes from a population of around nine hundred to over ten thousand during the summer. Another reason I was happy with my choice was when I saw the travelers in Riomaggiore, the favored village by several tour books, hauling their luggage up the hand hewn rock steps up to their quaint little room. I had a lift to the second floor.
The villages are picturesque and the colors, though fading and chipping, are memorable for their 'Mediterranean' look. All stacked up atop and next to each other. The ferry boats that go from village to village is the only way to travel here, unless you are an avid hiker. But two of the trails were closed and that limited their walks.
Off to Siena today on my way to Florence and the tons of tourists I'll find there, but with a week I should be able to pick and choose my battles.
I'll leave you with a shot of a fisherman in the setting sun.

Fishing at Deiva Marina, Italy

Ciao

Okay, It's Official!! I'm swamped.

I have just been taking pictures and not having any time to even look at them and do a fast edit for the ones I think will be worth working on in HDR, or something else. I have a s@#t load of files to go through!!! Something for the rainy (I hope for SoCal) winter days.
Last time I was able to post was after Milan, then there was Venice and now I am in Lucca and tomorrow I am off to Cinque Terra and then into Siena before settling in to Florence for an extended period.
I am beginning to see that I am drawn to places with or around water. The Lakes in Italy - Como - Venice, where everything goes by boat, and the ocean of course. The one thing I am tired of is fighting with the tourists for position for taking a photo or getting in line to go through an attraction. I am saving my 'indoor' jaunts for Florence.
Venice was great to be out on the water. The convenience of the water "buses' was even relaxing. I took the tour around Venice a couple of times just the see it from the water.
I have noticed a subtle difference between the French and the Italians. Both their languages use a lot of letters to spell their words. The French realize this and drop letters in speaking constantly. You look at a word spelled out and hear it spoken and it's "how did they come to that??!" Now the Italians also know they have way too many letters in their words, but they insist on pronouncing each and every one. An Italian can be telling you something and you can go to the restroom and come back and they are still telling you the same story.
Why Lucca?, you may have said. Well it is on the way to the west from Venice and it is a small fortified city that Napoleon took a fancy to and didn't have it torn down, and there was no military presence here in the war, so no Allied bombing, and that means there are plenty of very old - original - churches and murals and buildings. AND there are not a lot of tourists. Some but no crowds.

Just so you know I was in Venice

Where are all the boats? Simple - 10 stop ND at 15 sec and puff - they're gone. Levels the water too.

Storm eating the sunset. Followed by marble sized hale.

Oh! Not to forget - a great dinner last night at one of +Rick Steves' recommendations - Osteria Via S. Giorgio. Had a pasta with a light gorgonzola sauce with small pieces of melon. Yum! and then I went all out for the Fiermente steak that was a T-Bone and the juiciest piece of meat I have had in years. I'm still full.

Ciao

Milan - Fashion Week

And I thought that Paris was full of clothes shops. All the 'Fashion Mavens' all over the place and the Russian Ballet opening the season at La Scala AND the Milan Film Festival. Oh, did I mention that it is overcast and on again off again drizzles. As Rick Steves' says "Milan is an exhausting city for walking' , but I did the best I could.
Got mostly around the Parco Sempione, the Castello Sforzesco and of course I braved the pickpockets at the Duomo. but with the weather and my head a little stuffy, I didn't want to push it and be sick for Venice - my next stop - tomorrow.
Here are a few shots, though not my most inspired day. Better people watching and they go onto Google+ instead of here. Got to look now don't ya?

Building has a bigger 'sword' don't you think? Duomo, Milan

Castle Milan from the park

TGV to Venice in the morning and I'm off for a pizza before bed.

Ciao

Oops! It's Wednesday Already

I got out of Torino with all my gear (my backpack almost got boosted in train station - No harm on foul, though much more leery now in public.)
Went to Varenna on Sunday to the heart of the Italian Lake District. I now see why those who have money want to find a lakeside villa and wile away their moments with quiet tranquility. It is such a fabulous place and is at the top of my list - so far - for a return visit. The time for my being here has been with low tourist traffic and good weather, though a little hazy but that's just me. Varenna is at the center of the Mid-lake area of Lake Como with the ferries running many hours between Varenna-Bellagio-Tremezzo-Menagio. All the places you want to see. It takes no more than a few minutes to go between any of these villages and less than an hour to make the circuit. Varenna being the less 'glitzy' of the bunch and fewer upscale shops. Wander around, find a nice shady bench and watch the lake rise and fall - OR - find a table near the water, order a limoncello, sip, watch, sip, watch - you get the idea. New favorite pastime. Food is good - it's Italy - come on! I'm very happy with the decision to come here.

Varenna

Menagio Harbor

Peaceful Garden at Villa Melzi - Bellagio

Sunset From Varenna

Varenna Night where the Ferry Lands

I am now in Milano, using a WiFi in the room and will go out and explore before Dinner. I hear there is a dynamite gelato shop not far from the hotel - other new best thing to do in Italy!!

Ciao

Cliff Notes - France to Itlaia

The last three days have been just like the rest - Fabulous!!! Is it great to say that??
I left Paris on the TGV to Lyon on Thursday. Why stop in Lyon?
For the Lumiere Musee, I wish I had more fore knowledge about them and their work in Film history, but Edison and Eastmen crowd them out in the States. The Museum is in their old house - beautiful, and innovative in its day as well. The factory for their plates was right out their front door, but is all gone now.
For the Roman ruins on the hill in the old part of the city. There is a large and small amphitheater there, a good early history museum that was closed just as I arrived. Well I choose the Lumiere over them just in case. The amphitheater is used for concerts and plays today, it is still good.
Walked the old town and had dinner at Les Lyonaisse, where I tried the Salade Lyonaisse - made with greens, onions, tomatoes, croutons, Cooked 'bacon' the size of the croutons and topped off with a poached egg. Wonderful. I have never tried a Quenelle. I thought I was eating a cloud, it was so fluffy and smooth. It is a combination of pike - very well pureed (NO, NO, NO - don't think of the "Bass-o-matic"!!), poached and I think baked to finish in a Lobster sauce that I threatened the waiter with bodily harm if he attempted to remove the casserole plate before I had soaked up every drop of the sauce with my bread. I don't know I will ever again taste such mouth watering goodness again!!
Friday - Let for Turin and not knowing I had to reserve a seat on the TGV (thought it was just a regular train) the folks at the train sent me on to Chembery near the France/Italian border. The +, it is a beautiful little town nestled along a lake near the mountains. Worth a visit if you can. The -, not knowing if I'd get to Turin. Long story short, the conductor got me on, he had a little eight seat room in a car just for people like me I think. Met a young lady from Austrailian traveling as I am. Checked in to my room - great. (Side bar - The Italian government changed the 'star ratings' rules in the last couple of years and some formerly 4 star places are now 3 stars hotel. I think it has to do with the number of rooms and such, for the quality of this place "Hotel Valentino du Parc" is exceptional. Three stars will be just fine for me.)
Spent the day roaming around Turin and and now I am back, downloading and getting ready for a massage. I hear I am on vacation and I am allowed to do these sort of things. I shot a lot of captures today and I'll try to include some, but no guarantee.

This is the Bridge Passerelle du Palais de Justice over the Soame River in Lyon, with the Cathedral Fourviere on the hill.

Just two guys hanging around by the river all in white paint. You'd think they'd get cold.

Still downloading today and time for my massage.

Off to Lake Come tomorrow and staying in Vareena.

Chio

Last Day of Paris - Well for Me, Anyway

Tuesday was an incredible productive day. Though you should not use productive when on Holiday, but it was. Got the laundry done - always a chore, as who wants to do it anyway especially when you're in Paris. Oh Well. Wanted to 'check off' a few more things in Paris. Rodin Museum - Glad I went. Tower in Montparnasse for a view of the city - okay, a little hazy, but okay. I had decided to go to the Eiffel Tower for sunset and night shooting, but it was only about 5PM, so I get out the old Rick Steves' Pari book on the iPad and look to see what else may be around and of interest. Rue Cler is a small little walk street in the 7th Arr that is just a stone's throw from the Eiffel and I was getting a bit peckish, so off I stroll. Walking again! Sort of a Brentwood neighborhood, with prices to match, but very tree lined and busy with peds. Got a Capresse Salad with the best tomatoes and cheese I have had yet. The bread was just a baguette, but what a flavor and just perfect crust. It is called the 'Corner Cafe' on Rue Cler. Just spent about two hours having a beer, salad and of course - cafe gourmand.
Wondered over to the Eiffel and did some more people watching as the sun was slowly setting. See what you think:

And here's a little 10 sec treat of sunset itself.

Not bad except for the idiot who stood in front of the camera.

I'll try to blog tomorrow, but I'm traveling for the next three days. First Lyon, then Turin Italy and then on to Varenna to stay for three days on Lake Como.

Bahia

Sunday was a relax day here for me and every Parisian. Except for a few Brazilians. It was their annual march and "Bahia" fete. I was lucky enough to find out about it through +Photowalk Paris. I met a couple from the group, but we all started shooting and as the parade began to march down the street, I lost them and had to console myself with a good meal instead. Here are a few shots from the Bahia:

I didn't realize I was standing next to this women as I was looking up the street. As I turned, she was just finishing posing for friends and started to walk away. Just had time to raise the camera and 'snap'. Love my Sony a7.

She was part of one of four band and dance groups that were having a great time. It's hard to stand still with a Brazilian beat.

Monday may just turn out to be R&R as I have to get ready to leave Paris on Thursday. I realize that this may be the last really good WiFi I may see for awhile and I need to upload some work to the website. I have neglected it in favor of the blog.

Adieu

Saturday Walk Around Marais and more

I keep complaining about walking so much, but after a day moving around in this city, going from place to place, I realize I haven't been on the Metro and I have walked all day. That's just what you do here. You walk. You look. You hear. You hear all languages from all over the world. But a big difference I find here as opposed to say New York is that you can hear all these different languages on any one street. In NYC, you need to go to certain sections of the city to hear say Italian, or Spanish, or African. Paris may be divided in its living areas, because of cost factors as much as anything else, but every street has a mixture of all kinds of shops. I have never in my life seen so many stores related to clothes. Dresses, menswear, shoes, accessories, retailers, wholesalers. You can buy from wholesalers directly. There must be more clothing related shops here than in any other place.
There is a little market area in Marais that has many 'ethic' restaurants from Japanese to Moroccan to Spanish. I tried the Moroccan and the couscous was the best I have ever had. With meat balls (no, there were beef) and chicken and olives and veggies. Good start. Today, instead of telling about the walk here are some shots from the day. I had time this morning to put some together.

Crepe Maker with an Attitude - People Love Him

Morocain if you please

It was a day to sign up for Fall activities at the Marais City Hall. Many booths were set up outside in the street.

What a great Activity Center. Here's an Aikido Demonstration, but others all around as well.

Saturday in the local park. May be just like any other day to these guys.

Chocolates anyone?

Charming little apartment - Under the Pont Louis-Phillppe

Doesn't just everyone bring their piano to the Pont d'Arcole on a Saturday?

Enjoying a drink with friends as the sun heads to sunset on the Seine. If you forgot your own wine or beer, there is someone roaming around to sell you some.

The sun is setting over the Seine from the Pont Neuf

Lots of Boat traffic

Heading Home or Out for the Saturday Night fete?

Moon over Mandela Park near Les Halles

Home again, Home again jiggy jig - Rue d'Clery

That, and a few more spots, was my Saturday walk around Marais. Today there is a Brazilian Festival going on.

Have a great day.