Travel

I am a world traveler – but don’t ask me what my favorite place in the world is. I’ll only say, “The next place I’m going.”. But, these few spots were extraordinary and quite beautiful. Convento San Francisco in Granada, Nicaragua is the site of the city’s first church which dates back to 1529. Granada is one of the oldest Spanish Cities in the Americas.
Sunset over the Pacific ocean seen from San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. The most touristy city in the country was surprisingly non-touristy. Getting away: check!Enormous rock formations at Playa Madera along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.  Nicaragua’s prime surf.

Manarola, Italy along the Cinque Terre. One of five picturesque cliff side towns along Italy’s Northwest Mediterranean coast connected by hiking trail – and train for lazy people. Unaccessible for ages this area is now being “discovered” and certainly has a charm found nowhere else. The Louvre in Paris, France. This was shot on Valentines Day of 2011 after a lunch cruise on the Seine, Giuio Cesare at the Paris National Opera, and a stroll up and down Champs Elysees. Valentines Day in Paris… all I was missing was a valentine. Hmm.Plaza De España in Seville, Spain. Used as Queen Amidala’s palace during the shooting of Star Wars: Episode II, the Clone Wars. It’s colorful tile and rowboat filled canal made it a great place to take in one of the greatest cities in Spain. The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is an Islamic Palace with a commanding view of Granada with the always snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop – and some amazing sunsets. A view of an empty opera chair in the Opéra National de Paris. The setting for the fictitious “Phantom of the Opera”.It’s impossible not to be humbled by the Duomo in Florence (or more specifically, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore). Its world renowned terra-cotta clad dome remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. I captured this photo focusing my attention on the intricate but sometimes overlooked façade of the structure  with its pink, green, and white marble – while maintaining the dome as a backdrop in the frame as visual cue as to what we’re looking at.Forence’s Ponte Vecchio – a hub for jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers. Seen from Piazza Michelangelo, a lovely hilltop view of Florence.
Lovers from all over the world travel to Florence to inscribe their names, where they are from, and the date on a lock near the Arno river. They lock the lock and throw the key in the river; therefore, sealing the deal and ensuring they will be together forever. Lots of love in those locks. Vince and Liz are hanging down in the center. There’s also a Connecticut, Malta, and Mexico.The backside of the Louvre. Paris, France.Positano, Italy – along the Amalfi Coast. SImply mediterranean paradise. Looks like it could slide right off!
Ravello, Italy – one of the five towns of the Cinque Terre. I loved the colors and congruent details of the beautiful building! Such stunning details, textures, and food (too bad I can’t photograph the flavor of same-day-picked-basil in that pesto sauce!).
Vernazza, Italy, another one of the five towns of the Cinque Terre. At heart, all of these towns are nothing more than fishing villages perched atop cliff vistas along the Mediterranean. Considered grand discoveries by culture vultures, including myself, these locations on make it to the top of our list of most photogenic sites without even trying.
Venice. Actually built atop a cluster of 118 small islands, this city has never depended on cars or trucks for transportation. Instead, they use small boats and gondolas to get around. It’s a marvel that this city exists. Of all the locations to build a hub of commerce, art, and culture why would the early Venetians have settled on such an unusual spot? No matter how impractical – this city works. It’s hands down my favorite European city. Everything about this place is absolutely wonderful – from the late night live tango music to the scent of the salty canal water Venice is like nowhere else on earth.

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