The Bandstand

 

The Bandstand located in the center of Washington Park in Quincy Illinois.  It was the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates on October 13, 1858.

Quincy Illinois

Tall Pyramid

 The Transamerica Building stands out from all the other tall buidings. 

San Francisco California 

Greeting the Sun

 

Greeting the Sun is a sculpture by Kim Seyesnem Obrutz.  It was seem on the plaza at Museum Hill in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Three Shades

 

The Three Shades is a sculpture of three figures standing around a central point.  It was created by Rodin and this version stands in the garden of the Rodin Museum.

Paris France

Diamonds!

 

A display of the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, a vast variety of diamonds in many colors found inside the Natural History Museum.  There are 296 naturally colored diamonds that glow under ultra-violet lights. 

London England

Home to a Masterpiece

 

The Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie is home to Leonardo DaVinci's The Last Supper.

Milan Italy

Castle by the Lake

 

Castello Scaligero di Sirmione sits on the edge of Lake Garda and forms the entrance to the historical center of Sirmione.

Sirmione Italy

St. Pancras

 

One of the entrances to St. Pancras train station.  A truly beautiful building.

London England

A Monument

 

Monument of Marchese Spinetta Malaspina located inside the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Created between 1430 and 1435 in Verona Italy it is a monument to the military commander Spinetta Malaspina.  

London England

Rooftops

 

The rooftops of Paris are always pleasing to the eye.

Paris France

Puente del Inca

 

A former spa built under the Puente del Inca (Bridge of the Inca), a natural bridge formed from the hot springs waters.  The bridge spans the Las Cuevas River.

Las Cuevas Argentina

Distinctive Architecture

 

The distinctive architecture of Santa Fe New Mexico.  This is part of The Inn At Loretto Hotel and Spa.

Santa Fe New Mexico

Museum Gardens

 

The gardens at the Rodin Museum with a path leading to The Burghers of Calais sculpture by Rodin.

Paris France

Fontaine de l'Observatorie

 

The Fontaine de l'Observatorie is located in the Luxembourg Gardens.

Paris France

St. Mary le Bow

 

Inside St. Mary le Bow church.

London England

The Pageant of the Masters

 

The entrance to the Pageant of the Masters a summer-long event feature "live pictures" presented before an audience.  The pageant brings great works of art to life with live actors creating what is called  "tableaux vivants" or living pictures.  It's an amazing event.

Laguna Beach, California

Home of J. P. Morgan

 

The Morgan Library and Museum was once the home of banker J. P. Morgan.  The part of the museum that was once his home can be toured and includes his extensive library.  The room above is a sitting room in the former residence.

New York, New York

State Capitol

 The capitol building for the state of Montana. 

Helena Montana

Spanish Architecture

 

Architectural details from the Mission Inn Hotel.  The hotel has national historic landmark recognition and was built in 1876.  It is a composite of many styles but is predominately built in Spanish Mission architecture. 

Riverside California

Luxor

 

Inside the lobby area of the Luxor Hotel.  That is the pyramid shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Africa House

 

The sculptures on the front of Africa House, where the trade organization working with African nations resides.  It was created by Benjamin Clemens and depicts 1920's imperial allegories and wildlife.

London England

Streets of Water

 

One of the watery "streets" in Venice.  Every canal is picturesque in its own way.

Venice Italy

Carnaby Street

 

Sparkly sign hanging over Carnaby Street, that famous shopping street in London.

London England

Saint Anastasia

 

Inside the church of San Pietro de Verona, better known as Basilica Sant' Anastasia.

Verona Italy

Porta Camollia

 

The northern portal gate into the city of Siena. Walking through these gates leads into the old part of the city.

Siena Italy

Fountain Hills

 

This fountain dates back to 1970 and it holds the title fourth tallest operating fountain in the world and is the tallest in Arizona.  There is a webcam site available to see the fountain here.  It only operates for 15 minutes every hour on the hour.

Fountain Hills Arizona

A Touch of Morocco

 

Outside the Moroccan Pavilion at EPCOT.  It was a very rainy day.  

Bay Lake, Florida

Rooftop View

 

A rooftop view of Tower Bridge, the River Thames and to the far left, the Tower of London.  

London England

The Town Too Tough To Die

 

Main Street in Tombstone.  Founded in 1879 and still going strong.

Tombstone Arizona

Famous for Pie

 

Rock Springs Cafe is famous in Arizona for it selection of delicious pies.  I can vouch for the pecan and the lemon meringue and I believe I've also had the apple.  It is located north of the Phoenix metropolitan area in a town called Black Canyon City.

Black Canyon City Arizona

Argentine Congress

 

The National Congress of Argentina is housed in this impressive building that has the look of a government building.

Buenos Aires Argentina

Apacheland

 

Where an old movie set used to be, is now the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum.  There are several buildings and items left on the site from the old movie set called Apacheland.  One of those items is this old stagecoach waiting for riders. 

Apache Junction Arizona

Entering Parma

 

Entering the city of Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.  Parma is famous for its Parmesan cheese and Parma ham.  It is a university town filled with Romanesque buildings and a beautiful cathedral and baptistry. 

Parma Italy

Late at Night

 

The British Museum at night when it is closed and there are no people around it.  It looks like someone is letting themself in.

London England

Ancient Streets

 

Walking along the ancient streets of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.  This historic city is located across the Rio de La Plata from Buenos Aires Argentina.  In a little over an hour on a ferry, you are transported back in time to when this community was a Portuguese settlement.

Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay

America's Road

 

Everywhere you go in Williams Arizona you see tributes to Route 66 which was one of the first of the numbered roads in the U.S.  The highway ran from Chicago to Santa Monica California and many travelers drove that route over the past 100 years.  Williams Arizona was the last town to be bypassed Interstate 40 when it was built.  Williams has been celebrating its Route 66 history ever since.

Williams Arizona

Bryce Canyon

 

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its red "hoodoos" or spire-shaped rock formations.  It has several scenic overlooks and many hiking trails into the canyon.

Near Panguitch Utah

An Adorable Creature

 

Meerkats are such fascinating creatures.  I love watching them as the sit up like this and observe everything around them. This is one of many that reside at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park.

Litchfield Park, Arizona

The Capitol Dome

 

On this the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it seemed appropriate to post something related to United State Independence.  Here is a sunset shot of the beautiful dome on the U. S. Capitol building. It was built between 1855 and 1866 and is 288 feet tall.  It's crowned by the bronze statue of Freedom.

Washington D.C.

Chinese Gardens

 

A picturesque pagoda in the Chinese section of the Huntington Gardens at the Huntington Library and Gardens.

San Marino California

Italian Supreme Court

 

The Supreme Court building called The Supreme Court of Cassation.  This elaborate building is topped with a sculpture depicting Winged Victory driving a chariot and four horses.

Rome Italy

Tropical Retreat

 

Hollinsed House is a villa in the heart of Key West.  It works as a bed and breakfast retreat with four guest rooms.  It's surrounded by a lush, tropical garden. 

Key West Florida

Honoring Walter Cronkite

 

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications honors the memory of that veteran broadcast journalist.  The school is part of Arizona State University and the building houses television studios for the local Public Television station.

Phoenix, Arizona

Leadenhall Market

 

Leadenhall Market in the City of London early on a Sunday before the shops were open.

London England

Florence Cathedral

 A close-up view of that famous dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.  It sits atop the Florence Cathedral.  Construction of the cathedral began in 1296 and was completed in 1436.  

Florence Italy

Native American Stormtrooper

 

A Native American stormtrooper painted by artist Rod Velarde.  It was part of an exhibition at the Museum of Northern Arizona.  It is hand painted using acrylic paints.

Flagstaff Arizona

Need a Hat?

 

If you are in the market for new hat, you might be able to find one here at Laird Hatters located on Cornmarket Street in Oxford.  

The building dates back to the 15th century.

Oxford England

The BBC

 

The headquarters of the BBC in London.  I was able to visit the inside several years ago but it since has been closed to the public.  To the far right is a glimpse of All Souls Church.

London England

Central Plaza

 

Piazza del Campo, the central gathering plaza in Siena.  

Siena Italy

Buttoned-Up

 

A statue of a lion with  a buttoned-up mouth located on the grounds of Villa Melzi. A buttoned mouth on a lion indicates a female guardian lion and symbolizes retaining wealth and keeping bad energy out.  

Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy