Immerse Yourself in Historic Bath
Confession: we almost skipped historic Bath, worried that the famous spa town might be too touristy. Popular for so long with fashionable society, we pictured the streets of Bath crowded with well-to-do weekenders carrying bags from high-end shops, taking breaks from hours of pampering and massage. You can certainly find these things, but there are […]
Cartagena Doors: Infinitely Photogenic
To say we took a lot of photos in Cartagena is an understatement. The doors of Cartagena in particular continuously stopped us in our tracks, begging us to photograph them. We’re not sure if it’s the sheer size, the interesting design of smaller, inset doors, the ornate door knockers or the endless variety of […]
Don’t Skip: Danba, China
Intro to Danba, China Have you ever been to a destination that during the journey to get there you thought to yourself, “This better be worth it!”? Well, Danba is definitely one of those places. Leaving Chengdu on a bus before the sun came up, we headed northwest to Danba. Unless you have your own […]
El Capitán Revisited
Opened as a cattlemen’s hotel in 1930, with the railroad depot across the street, ranchers used to trade cattle in the lobby. The hotel was designed by the architect Henry Trost, and built by Charles Bassett, one of five hotels of the Gateway Hotel chain constructed in west Texas and eastern New Mexico to increase tourism within 200 miles of El Paso. In the early 70s, the hotel was converted to a bank. Vaults installed during that time are now used for bar storage in the dining room and as a small gift shop off the lobby
Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry
This image was captured at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. India was the first place I thought of when reading the Weekly Photo Challenge. The architecture there is quite balanced with geometric shapes. This particular image is of marble inlay on the exterior of the building. Here are some others’ images representing “geometry.”
Don’t Skip: Bikaner, India
Desert Outpost Bikaner Firmly planted in western Rajasthan Bikaner has a distinctly different feel from the other Rajasthani cities we’ve visited thus far. It’s a big city, but one that seems more like a desert outpost than a modern urban center. Camels are everywhere, used here mostly for pulling carts and work in agriculture. Hauling […]
Avoiding Aggravation in Agra
Forewarned and a little nervous, we arrived in Agra by train after dark. Stories of scams, being overcharged and harassed abound: gem scams, fake marble souvenirs, aggressive vendors, unscrupulous drivers who just want to take you to shops, hotels or restaurants where they get a commission. As much as we wanted to see the Taj […]
Ancient City Hoi An
Designated a World Cultural Heritage town, Hoi An thrived in the 16th and 17th centuries as an international trading port. Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Indian traders arrived, and in many cases established businesses and residences here. The town has some of the best-preserved architecture (residences, pagodas, temples, communal and assembly houses, wells, wharf, etc.) in […]
Jogja On My Mind
No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to the island of Java: not just to sample the coffee but to see how a true Indonesian city feels. After a quick fifty minute flight from Bali, we arrived in the city of Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta or, locally, Jogja. Our best-laid plan for accommodation was […]
Takayama
Leaving the city of Kyoto and heading north into the Japanese Alps for the city of Takayama was a much needed break from the fast pace of city life. Takayama has a population of just under one hundred thousand, but it feels like much less. It was cool, less humid and just what the doctor […]