Life is a patchwork of experiences
One of the highlights on my recent Iceland ProCruises tour was a stop to Flatey Island. This is a private island with summer holiday homes and Iceland ProCruises is the only tour company allowed to stop here.
The island has a large puffin colony that is easy to get to and to photograph. This little guy or gal had just gone fishing and was standing there with his catch, keeping a close eye on all of us. He clearly had no intention of sharing.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This beautiful swan was following me as I walked along the canals of Burano in the early morning. I think it was hoping to get some food, but I had none to give. I waited for quite a while for the swan to swim to this particular section of the canal where the colorful houses were reflecting shades of pink and yellow. Eventually, it cooperated. Patience is a virtue that I don’t always have, but in this case, it paid off.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Burano is a popular day trip from Venice. Most people go for just a few hours and seem to stay on the main canal paths to get their photos, shop and eat. During the day, this main plaza is a hub of activity. Restaurants and cafes have put out their chairs and umbrellas. Waiters are taking orders and serving food. Shopkeepers display their wares. Tourists are milling about, eating, drinking, shopping and wandering. But at 6 in the morning, no one is up yet, and it is just me and the sweeper.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
I love Venice, but I love the little island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon even more. Its intimate, compact size and the popsicle colored housed reflected in the canals are a photographer’s dream. On this visit, I spent the night and had the island practically to myself in the evening after the day trippers left, and in the morning before everyone woke up. In this case, the early bird caught a great photo.
Thanks for visiting
Rose
A crippled beggar hopes for a few coins at the entrance to a church in Cartagena, Columbia. Across the street, a street vendor eats his lunch as he waits for passers-by to purchase a painting. It’s just another day for the locals in Cartagena, trying to make a living.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
At the port of Cartagena, you have to pass through an Eco Park on the way back to boarding the cruise ship. After walking all morning with the hot sun beating down on me, it was a lovely, shaded, stroll that was not very long. The park has lots of peacocks, macaws and flamingos, along with shops and eateries. Even if you do not plan on going into the city, getting off the ship and exploring this area is a pleasant distraction.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This story was recognized by the North American Travel Journalists Association with a Silver award in the Portrait Photography category in the 2022 annual media travel awards competition .The palenqueras of Cartagena – black women in bright costumes with baskets of fruit on their head – have become a colorful national symbol for their country. All around the old town of Cartagena, I saw these women waiting to have their photos taken in exchange for a tip. Once they saw a potential opportunity, they would put the bowls of fruit on their head, flare their skirts and give a huge smile – and then reach out for the expected dollars.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: Waiting to Make a Dollar in Cartagena”
It is usually Greece’s islands that are associated with sunny beaches. But in the north, the peninsula of Halkidiki is also known for its many choices of beautiful white sand beaches. There are so many to choose from that you could spend many months exploring a different beach each day. What I really liked is that so many of the beaches had beach bars where you could rent a lounge chair for the day for a few euros, and food and drink options were on hand as well. Now that is a relaxing beach vacation indeed.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Lazarus Koundouriotis was a successful shipping industry businessman. He supported the Greek War of Independence in 1821 by funding it with most of his wealth, which contributed greatly to the success of the war for the Greeks. His family’s home overlooking the harbor on the island of Hydra is now a popular museum which is part of the Greece National Historical Museum.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
The little Greek island of Hydra does not allow cars or any other motorized vehicles, even bicycles. To move things around the hilly island, locals use donkeys, foot power or boats.
Thanks for visiting
Rose
