Sunset from the Stony Man Mountain Overlook on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
I’ve been working with my website company to make some updates to my website and this blog. Most of the changes are “under the hood,” and the most visible is that both sites are finally now “https.”
Everything seems to be working normally, but let me know if you see anything weird.
UPDATE: I’ve had several reports of the blog not loading properly on some browsers and have the same problem myself in Edge and Chrome. If you could, please let me know in the comments if you are able to see the pages properly or not. Thanks!
Tour and tasting at Foursquare Distillery on Barbados
“Man… you guys do keep on the move. Even your “light” travel schedule would knock a lot of other folks to their knees.” –
Jeff C in an email exchange discussing 2025 travel plans
2024 was a good year. In fact, 2024 was a very good year for Tom & Kathy. Everyone stayed (mostly) healthy, there were no major catastrophes, we spent time with friends and family, and we traveled. Boy did we travel!
We started off the year with a 4700 mile road trip that took us to Texas and across the gulf coast to Florida that included three cruises and lots of sightseeing along the way.
We headed to Ohio in April for the Total Eclipse.
In May and June we made the 5600 mile round trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
In July we made a 3800 mile loop of PA, OH, MI, WI, KY.
In October we left the car at home for a 6+ week trip to Portugal & Spain.
And we managed to make a few other short jaunts to the NC mountains and beyond.
Miles: 20,441
Photos: 18,975 (How many keepers…I don’t know yet! 😉 )
Kathy considers a good travel year to be 100 nights away from home. This year: 153
I haven’t finished processing our Spain photos, although it doesn’t matter much. It’s nearly impossible to filter just 24 favorites out of 18,000!
How do you choose just one Yellowstone/Grand Teton photo? You don’t. You choose 6. That was tough enough!
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkGrand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National ParkDead Lodgepole Pine Trees, nicknamed Bobby Sox Trees for the white bases that result from the trees absorbing the mineral rich water. Near Tangled Creek along Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National ParkMary Bay, on Lake Yellowstone near Lake Yellowstone Hotel.Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkHistoric barn at the Thomas Alma and Lucille Moulton Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Sometimes a photo is a favorite because of where we were:
Night time departure from New Orleans aboard Celebrity ConstellationWawatam Lighthouse in St. Ignace, MichiganThe ‘Secret Garden’ at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MichiganThe Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control Center, from which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions, including the momentous first lunar landing mission as well as early space shuttle missions. Space Center Houston in Houston, TexasThe Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, TexasWawatam Lighthouse in St. Ignace, Michigan
Portugal and Spain were quite nice – 9 more:
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, SpainLa Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, SpainCiutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia, SpainTourist boats on the Douro River in Porto, PortugalScene from our walking tour of Porto, PortugalOne of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainTaylor Fladgate Port Winery in Porto, PortugalPonte Infante Dom Henrique Bridge over the Douro River in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
Sometimes a photo is a favorite because of who we were with:
Monte photographing the interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoIt’s usually a good idea to take a photo when Kathy points it out. Sunset from the rooftop bar of Hotel Hesperia, our hotel in Cordoba, SpainI didn’t count this in the 24 but it is still a favorite! Aboard Adventure of the Seas
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
It was interesting to note how many people asked “where?” when we said we were going to or had gone to The Alhambra. It is one of the top destinations in Spain, and it sure was busy when we were there. Even one of our drivers in Spain said that he had never been there.
City view from The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
In many ways, the history of The Alhambra reflects the history of Spain.
The complex was begun in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state of Al-Andalus. The most significant construction campaigns, which gave the royal palaces much of their defining character, took place in the 14th century during the reigns of Yusuf I and Muhammad V. After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered. In 1526, Charles V commissioned a new Renaissance-style palace in direct juxtaposition with the Nasrid palaces, but it was left uncompleted in the early 17th century.
The site fell into disrepair over the following centuries, with its buildings occupied by squatters. The troops of Napoleon destroyed parts of it in 1812. After this, the Alhambra became an attraction for British, American, and other European Romantic travelers. The most influential of them was Washington Irving, whose Tales of the Alhambra (1832) brought international attention to the site. The Alhambra was one of the first Islamic monuments to become the object of modern scientific study and has been the subject of numerous restorations since the 19th century. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainThe Alhambra in Grenada, SpainStairway at The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
We booked a private tour from our hotel in Cordoba to Granada through Spain Day Tours. The package included a driver to the complex then a private guide who took us all through the various gardens and buildings. He was extremely knowledgeable and steered us to many of the “secret” places that others might or might not have seen. It was a great way to visit without having to also navigate trains and buses.
(Special thanks to James The (Retired) Wine Guy for his excellent recommendation!)
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainThe Alhambra in Grenada, SpainOne of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainGardens at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
Confusing title, right? No worries…read on.
Before I start posting more photos from our recent adventure, I thought a little background might be helpful. Maybe, maybe not.
Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
For years I’ve entertained this idea that I would love to take a transatlantic cruise to Europe in the spring, spend the summer bumming around the continent, then take another transatlantic cruise back to the states in the fall. That’s what cruise ships (in the northern hemisphere) usually do – winter in the Caribbean and summer in the Mediterranean, Baltic or Alaska.
There is generally only one way to sail over to Europe and back in less than a summer on a major cruise line. Cunard operates regular transatlantic cruises year round on the Queen Mary II. We know people that do it, but it is a little pricey and just never seemed like the way we wanted to do things.
Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
About a year and a half ago, friends told us about an upcoming cruise opportunity on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas that was going to Spain for dry dock. It was scheduled to leave Port Canaveral in Florida, sail to Lisbon, Portugal then go into dry dock for about three weeks. After dry dock it was scheduled to sail from Barcelona, Spain back to Port Canaveral. The price was great – less than it would cost us to fly round trip for both cruises – round trip! Plus it would make stops on the way both ways. Portugal and Spain had been on our radar for a while but had not quite made it to the top of the list. But sometimes opportunity is the best motivation! So we booked it. It seemed so far away at the time.
Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
Once we had our transportation over and back, we had to figure out how to get from Lisbon to Barcelona in 3-ish weeks. A couple of emails to friends and a few calls with our lovely travel agents came up with a plan. We had lots of options, but finally settled on spending time in Porto & Lisbon in Portugal, then Cordoba, Valencia and Barcelona in Spain. We usually prefer to spend more time in fewer places, and considered these cities to be good places to explore in and to explore from. We were also counting on visiting in the off season, so hopefully there would be fewer crowds in the popular places.
Rather than make this a 300 page post that no one reads (are you still reading? 😉 ) I’ll try and add some details to the individual city posts as I do them. That will make each post a little shorter and more concise, and give me more material to share. Porto will be up first in a few days.
How far can you sail in a straight line? Navigation map aboard Adventure of the Seas
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Nazare, Portugal
We’re home and in the process of catching up on home stuff. I’m working on picking and processing my 6600+ photos, so while I do that I’ll just randomly post ones I find interesting. Eventually I will have them in a more cohesive order.
These are two very similar photos from two churches in two different places, but I thought they would make a nice pairing.
Colorful light through stained glass windows. The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, Spain
On our way south from Michigan we stopped in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin to visit our friends Jeff & Mary Pat. We needed to kill some time one afternoon when we remembered that we had previously tried to visit the Yerkes Observatory in nearby Williams Bay.
Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
We tried to visit the observatory in October 2019 (Blog Post) but discovered that it had been closed and was not permitting visitors. We talked at length with the caretaker, who had been outside mowing the lawn. He explained that the observatory was in the process of being transferred to a private foundation and the goal was to re-open to the public sometime in the coming years.
Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
We were pleased to discover that the observatory in now in the hands of The Yerkes Future Foundation. It remains a working observatory, and the only way to visit is by booking a tour, so that’s what we did.
The Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinThe Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinThe Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
Yerkes Observatory has a long history of discovery and has been visited by famous scientists and astronomers over the years, including Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Nancy Grace Roman, Gerard Kuiper, Mary Calvert, E.E. Barnard, Richard Kron, Carl Sagan and many more. The Yerkes 40-inch Great Refractor Telescope was the largest refracting-type telescope in the world when it was dedicated in 1897 (40 inches refers to the size of the main lens element). The telescope is 63 feet long, weighs 12,000 pounds and is so delicately balanced that it can be moved by hand.
Storage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinStorage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinStorage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinDarkroom at the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
The library/storage area contains hundreds of books on astronomy and astrophysics, along with an interesting array of old equipment, including cameras and enlargers. We even got to see some old slides that were made before digital imaging became the standard.
Astronomy book that had been checked out by Carl Sagan in 1956. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinAstronomy book that had been checked out by Carl Sagan in 1956. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
The foundation has done a beautiful job restoring the facility and does a nice tour. We even got to see the dome rotated and the floor raised, which is one of the way to access the eyepiece of the telescope!
When going through my Mackinac photos I realized that I had assembled a small collection of what I call “detaily” photos. Small bits of stuff that are often overlooked in a scene. This is just an example from one place. I do it all the time but don’t usually post it as subject matter. Hmmm…. 😉
Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganFort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, MichiganPhone booth at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MichiganMackinac Island, Michigan
Vortex generator at the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina
I just purchased a new tablet and am hoping to use it for some of our upcoming travel in lieu of a laptop. Of course that means figuring out how to get photos from my camera to the tablet, then getting them from my tablet to my blog. I’ve used Fuji’s mobile app before but it sucks, so my best choice is to use a card reader, which I had never tried on a tablet.
Earlier this week we visited Greensboro, NC with our son and grandson, visiting the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. I took a few photos there and along the way. 😉
Train arriving at the Greensboro Amtrak station in Greensboro, North Carolina
Since I don’t want to confuse my workflow too much, I want to be able to selectively choose photos from my memory card and only import the ones I want into Lightroom Mobile. That process worked great. One weird thing is that when I plugged the card and card reader in, my tablet set up a folder scheme as though it was going to back up files to my tablet. I’d rather not have it do that but haven’t figured out how to turn it off!
For fun I imported a few files on to my tablet, processed them on my tablet and let them upload to the cloud. I cheated a bit by outputting them from my computer, and my next step will be to refine the tablet outputting in order to do it from there. I’ve done that before and it’s not a big deal.
So far so good. 🙂
Sculpture outside the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina
View of the Portage Canal and Lift Bridge in Houghton, Michigan
We’ve been staying in Houghton, Michigan the last few nights and managed to snag a hotel room with a high floor and view of the Portage Canal which connects Portage Lake with Lake Superior. We had this rather nice view just after sunset.
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
I’m kind of used to people looking at me funny when I am stooped over my tripod composing a scene instead of taking the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ with my phone. I was reminded of that while visiting the Mormon Row Historic area of Grand Teton National Park. While everyone else’s lenses were pointed at the Moulton Barns, I was facing the other way looking for compositions on the other side of the road.
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Kathy is often reminding me to “turn around.” But this time I remembered it on my own!
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
