tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10268508808293707572024-02-20T23:02:18.434-05:00Photography by Lou FordLou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-83324242635873823732011-10-19T16:39:00.000-04:002011-10-19T16:39:08.721-04:00Laguna Beach, California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On our
recent vacation in Southern California, we spent three days and two nights in
beautiful Laguna Beach. I’ve been to
Laguna Beach a number of times - on business trips or to visit my sister,
Nancy, who used to live there – and I always enjoy going back. The town of Laguna Beach is a quaint little
village filled with many art galleries, specialty shops, and restaurants
sitting right on the Pacific Ocean. The
town is adjacent to Main Beach – a wide, beautiful beach with surfing,
volleyball, basketball, and a small boardwalk for strolling. The most famous structure on the beach is the
landmark lifeguard tower, which has become the symbol of Laguna Beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">What I like
most about the area are the spectacular views from the hills overlooking the
beach and ocean. Heisler Park runs along
the top of the cliff behind the Las Brisas restaurant and has the best views of
Main Beach and the rugged coastline to the north. The park is also a popular place for locals –
jogging, dog walking, picnics and barbecues, or just spending the day. Unfortunately for us it was cloudy and
overcast most of the time we were there, so I wasn’t able to get too many good
pictures. I guess we’ll have to go back
again soon when the sun is shining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">While in Laguna Beach we stayed two nights at
the Casa Laguna Inn & Spa, a wonderful bed & breakfast. The inn is located on the side of a hill
right on the Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the ocean in South Laguna
Beach. I was impressed by the online
recommendation given by TripAdvisor and the great reviews from those who have
stayed there in the past, and we weren’t disappointed. Once inside the confines of the inn you’re in
a different world. The grounds contain a
pool and a number of peaceful courtyards, featuring lush vegetation and palm
trees. The rooms are nice but a little
on the small side - we stayed in a deluxe room with an ocean view patio - but
the highlight of the stay has to be the gourmet breakfasts served in the
beautiful Palm Court. Besides the usual
coffee, tea, juices, and fruit, you can order from a menu of lavish gourmet entrees
and side dishes. My favorite dish was
the “Just Peachy Waffles”. The inn also has a daily wine, cheese, and appetizer
reception in the evening.</span> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago we spent eight days vacationing in Southern California. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the San Diego Zoo. This was our second visit to the zoo – the first was back in 2006 – so we knew what to expect this time. One thing we didn’t expect on our first visit was the terrain of the zoo – we thought it would be very flat. There are a lot of uphill and downhill slopes, which is fine if you need a good workout, but if you’re older, like us, you may want to plan a route through the zoo that includes many more downhill walks than uphill. Using the express buses and Skyfari Aerial Tram can be a big help in getting around the park.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got to the zoo shortly after it opened in the morning and headed directly to the guided bus tour, which is included with a regular admission ticket. It’s best to take the tour as early as possible for two reasons: there are much shorter waiting times in the morning; and, the animals tend to be out and about more in the cooler morning air, especially on a cloudy morning like we had. The tour is 35-40 minutes long on a double-decker bus and gives you a great overview of about 70% of the zoo to help your planning for the day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With 100 acres to cover, we knew we couldn’t see everything on our one-day visit, but the two exhibits we definitely wanted to see were the Polar Bear Plunge and the Pandas. So after the bus tour we visited a few exhibits near the zoo entrance, like the koalas, the flamingos, and the hummingbird house, and then hopped on the aerial tram to go up to the top of the hill at the far end of the park. From there we could head downhill and see the Polar Rim, Panda Canyon, the Asian Passage, Elephant Odyssey, Africa Rocks, the Urban Jungle, and the Outback.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The polar bears put on quite a show while we were there. At first one of the large bears was having a good time playing in the water with one of his toys. Then one of the smaller polar bears came over and they spent a lot of time roughhousing in the water. Sometimes it was hard to tell if they were fighting or just playing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our visit to the zoo five years ago the pandas weren’t active at all – they spent the whole time sleeping up in the trees. This time they were very active and I was able to get a few good photos.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new Elephant Odyssey is amazing – eight elephants roaming in a vast 2½-acre exhibit. Pretty remarkable considering our famous Philadelphia Zoo no longer has any elephants due to lack of space and lack of funding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-49885798354385781112011-08-25T11:25:00.000-04:002011-08-25T11:25:27.821-04:00Lancaster Central Market<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Central Market is a true American treasure. As the country’s oldest farmers’ market, it is housed in an 1889 "Romanesque Revival" building designed by James H. Warner. The 60+ Market stand holders offer a wide variety of foods during the three market days-Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Market also includes non-food gift items.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Lancaster residents have long recognized Central Market as one of the City’s great places. The historic market recently received national recognition from the American Planning Association (APA) as one of 10 Great Public Spaces in America. In an October announcement, the APA noted, “This historic market with its rich architectural details is the crown jewel of downtown Lancaster.” </span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Central Market’s history dates back to 1730 when Andrew Hamilton laid out the original town plan for Lancaster. Hamilton designated a lot adjacent to the town square as a public marketplace in perpetuity, making our historic Central Market the oldest continuously operating public marketplace in the United States. Central Market’s long operating history combined with its architectural design provides our historic Market local, regional and national significance.</span><br />
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Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-50420748797694445752011-06-22T16:56:00.003-04:002011-06-23T11:07:46.604-04:00Baltimore Inner Harbor<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We wanted to get away for a few days, so this past weekend we decided to spend two nights in Baltimore, Maryland. We always enjoyed taking day-trips with the kids to the Inner Harbor, but haven’t been there for a number of years, so this was a good opportunity to get back, enjoy the harbor, and take some pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBkd_jb73xdyY52HsJq2EUPgAn6JCKtEehyP220wItPUDvhEAUt489yuEJgyhJn0qA2KnCCVdeXvjV6CzMB2PAN10MtScxm8s3eKqsX-RzQg8cZjvAz7sUhebGQOOaShFC7PHI2b6RuoZ/s1600/IMG_5712_HDRL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBkd_jb73xdyY52HsJq2EUPgAn6JCKtEehyP220wItPUDvhEAUt489yuEJgyhJn0qA2KnCCVdeXvjV6CzMB2PAN10MtScxm8s3eKqsX-RzQg8cZjvAz7sUhebGQOOaShFC7PHI2b6RuoZ/s320/IMG_5712_HDRL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLgP-ZjE0S3AAMTapoGZ4N-Y6PFoTYcJfZI3WVY91chUb1lTYgRVB-7DHTK35-xmSQ5SC_jsjs_xlF7qX8lF-jb1fcDsIUKHhYmDkQR6qD7tQXxL6QvsytMfMz2tIhyphenhyphensP8pDfZ0yDs4vj/s1600/IMG_5720_HDRL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLgP-ZjE0S3AAMTapoGZ4N-Y6PFoTYcJfZI3WVY91chUb1lTYgRVB-7DHTK35-xmSQ5SC_jsjs_xlF7qX8lF-jb1fcDsIUKHhYmDkQR6qD7tQXxL6QvsytMfMz2tIhyphenhyphensP8pDfZ0yDs4vj/s320/IMG_5720_HDRL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The main selling point for the Inner Harbor is that there is plenty to do for every member of the family. If you’re into shopping you can browse the shops at Harborplace right on the water, or take in the Gallery Mall just across the street. When it’s time to eat, there are no shortage of dining spots. The main cuisine of the area is seafood at restaurants like Phillips, McCormick & Schmick’s, and the Rusty Scupper, but you can find any type of food at any price level within walking distance, since every restaurant chain is represented.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfwZhDb7xX7QUq6CcIZEGvz4nq9_FfyLz2UuT7QQUiqWjgSC7DXcD-ZASBzKYLGiwoObXrfYR6roTzjdk7fV5rcul_vylSyFEffOIXqOBhAIxzdaDaxg8balBPaZT94H5fQRlRRJdvcUD/s1600/IMG_5676L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfwZhDb7xX7QUq6CcIZEGvz4nq9_FfyLz2UuT7QQUiqWjgSC7DXcD-ZASBzKYLGiwoObXrfYR6roTzjdk7fV5rcul_vylSyFEffOIXqOBhAIxzdaDaxg8balBPaZT94H5fQRlRRJdvcUD/s320/IMG_5676L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harborplace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWqdVOz5xAFAHy1z0QWCOKRXlBIVQYRKP76QZgfIfOtg-c_77NN1d7eVrdwtOmoeIpNBbXqNOk4YV8L5yB8Kz_1omFDC6d9Non3jsB5jUL1uaTL760LhFoiWyILVMzVtHfu18ZF6Ojk4v/s1600/IMG_5699L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWqdVOz5xAFAHy1z0QWCOKRXlBIVQYRKP76QZgfIfOtg-c_77NN1d7eVrdwtOmoeIpNBbXqNOk4YV8L5yB8Kz_1omFDC6d9Non3jsB5jUL1uaTL760LhFoiWyILVMzVtHfu18ZF6Ojk4v/s320/IMG_5699L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gallery Mall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWedi9M8ZQ8yivmRf7yUEvu3EIIwe_6tpaHWWZx8kKzGFPDyPTt6r797SBNnhQI_eH0oyeKv8-fYkL86djEjvrkqJ8iJtxAbnm0oH0Ux18t53T3Xc8vTNbMqmxxQ3gZGDdP6SW-FeeErpD/s1600/IMG_5671L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWedi9M8ZQ8yivmRf7yUEvu3EIIwe_6tpaHWWZx8kKzGFPDyPTt6r797SBNnhQI_eH0oyeKv8-fYkL86djEjvrkqJ8iJtxAbnm0oH0Ux18t53T3Xc8vTNbMqmxxQ3gZGDdP6SW-FeeErpD/s320/IMG_5671L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillips Seafood (Express)</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">There are also many activities to keep the whole family occupied. The main attraction of the Inner Harbor is the National Aquarium. We spent most of the day on Saturday exploring the many exhibits – I’ll concentrate on the aquarium in my next blog entry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiNNZ3XveI4VALQohJxNJ9_-aFTqMNse7M_mxEwkwqlDpww097nk3h2vl_Y2sm1HXefP_VnZEviSgfdKfESFM9rqxejJLQlxv8UsvtNjY5ycISNz-VmOQOM6E84ACKVWyNH8DWPGmEK3g/s1600/IMG_5684L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiNNZ3XveI4VALQohJxNJ9_-aFTqMNse7M_mxEwkwqlDpww097nk3h2vl_Y2sm1HXefP_VnZEviSgfdKfESFM9rqxejJLQlxv8UsvtNjY5ycISNz-VmOQOM6E84ACKVWyNH8DWPGmEK3g/s320/IMG_5684L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Aquarium</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In addition to the aquarium, there are many other things to do: visit the Maryland Science Center; tour the Civil War era USS Constellation tall ship as well as other ships and a submarine; plus tour the harbor area on various types of vessels and dining cruises. <o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">If you’re into baseball and football, the Orioles and Ravens stadiums are just a couple of blocks from the Inner Harbor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q3-XQFGLVps6BEw4MMdfPcSMX_InYO4C73eI1F5i9GPjXfAKLx6gGDmzutghh4woaGOTpSwEOmtctTLxBIpfqXFQzS7LoIwOH5ybUmBQjNzR4MLu72h-00uRXkadv3pYahuS2ObCLIxu/s1600/IMG_5876L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q3-XQFGLVps6BEw4MMdfPcSMX_InYO4C73eI1F5i9GPjXfAKLx6gGDmzutghh4woaGOTpSwEOmtctTLxBIpfqXFQzS7LoIwOH5ybUmBQjNzR4MLu72h-00uRXkadv3pYahuS2ObCLIxu/s320/IMG_5876L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS Constellation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuTKI3hMFDaPRnEA7yM3nEFTcacIKTc_2MhntGhS6P7NQoJBwVaZ4V0AHjr75fSlkDmyJTizL1eBBHfZBa29bC_Bv6ri8aD-2gLUbDPvSF4rR0SzLmnlPnTlzF_pnMZJ5cn2PEUOU7pQp/s1600/IMG_5666L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuTKI3hMFDaPRnEA7yM3nEFTcacIKTc_2MhntGhS6P7NQoJBwVaZ4V0AHjr75fSlkDmyJTizL1eBBHfZBa29bC_Bv6ri8aD-2gLUbDPvSF4rR0SzLmnlPnTlzF_pnMZJ5cn2PEUOU7pQp/s320/IMG_5666L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seadog Harbor Cruiser</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since our anniversary was last weekend, we wanted to stay at a nice hotel, so we stayed at the Intercontinental, directly across the street from the harbor. The hotel was very elegant, the rooms large, and the breakfasts were very well prepared. On Saturday night we dined at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood restaurant. The seafood was outstanding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmhCdeg6wkFfgVjvHASG8tSQPy-ZwTgLF3VcR4UiM2NQnOfLYfwmAP-CgJmkorp0XnXpJIMY_AELtBg6GFmXGcN0q7jFcFW3Sg01dxDTrreh9-Rv4GJmjUV2NyPCgroHJRY1SXfvPT6Zu/s1600/IMG_5636L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmhCdeg6wkFfgVjvHASG8tSQPy-ZwTgLF3VcR4UiM2NQnOfLYfwmAP-CgJmkorp0XnXpJIMY_AELtBg6GFmXGcN0q7jFcFW3Sg01dxDTrreh9-Rv4GJmjUV2NyPCgroHJRY1SXfvPT6Zu/s320/IMG_5636L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intercontinental Hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmxXFBYRbRtIuUdL1bTwtYpqxFo8pH6UrJI2HELBs9SHQKEnfSFyjl2soRdbw3dlGVV6sXAjz2beHJ8NbEDf_T12lICcNmIqWPweqjEKImQyasPRrnda423gL2REtOh7CAsAgbVuLs3lG/s1600/IMG_5641L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmxXFBYRbRtIuUdL1bTwtYpqxFo8pH6UrJI2HELBs9SHQKEnfSFyjl2soRdbw3dlGVV6sXAjz2beHJ8NbEDf_T12lICcNmIqWPweqjEKImQyasPRrnda423gL2REtOh7CAsAgbVuLs3lG/s320/IMG_5641L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant</td></tr>
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</span></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-6634230408491456242011-05-25T13:55:00.003-04:002011-05-25T14:36:59.690-04:00Old City - Philadelphia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfYz9kN2zZ_FaiQHKRBojebz-cGWtsTRnfY37qNjl28om2A51bEMcbbJNRG5rUJeC0M0N4k1SzfW1ywVP2bwWuUIxKa4-RmJj6wZe3zbHiHT4x7Ve2EZanaLkf-ZxjUgUDuJqkO9m3BeQ/s1600/Old+City+Map.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfYz9kN2zZ_FaiQHKRBojebz-cGWtsTRnfY37qNjl28om2A51bEMcbbJNRG5rUJeC0M0N4k1SzfW1ywVP2bwWuUIxKa4-RmJj6wZe3zbHiHT4x7Ve2EZanaLkf-ZxjUgUDuJqkO9m3BeQ/s200/Old+City+Map.tiff" width="200" /></a></div>A few weeks ago I decided to hop on the train at Thorndale and head to downtown Philadelphia with my camera. My main goal was to walk around the Old City section and capture a few shots of the beautifully restored colonial townhomes in the area. Old City (sometimes spelled “Olde City”) is the area of Philadelphia along the Delaware River where William Penn and the Quakers first settled. The Old City district is loosely defined as the area between Front and Sixth Streets, Vine Street to the north and Walnut Street to the south.<br />
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I also wanted to see some of the usual historic sites, other than Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The tower at Independence Hall is undergoing renovations; the scaffolding around the tower is covered with a picture of the tower, so, needless to say, I took no shots of Independence Hall this time. What I did see was the Betsy Ross House, Elfreths Alley, Christ Church, and Franklin Court. All of the sites were teeming with school classes, so I wasn’t able to get any inside shots, just outside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franklin Court</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qzUkh2elrSfvJWXRahuXRgNTdx06KxYvDW8W_C4L5BWAvm-3M3U8ILuA2-uW0ShOlHGGGaBirhqfM4M7ypf2vHqeh9qHXKBtdTrVZcfkclLom4hZLJNXXrsVXI0SpAJ1iAVrXzdUpbvu/s1600/IMG_5427L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qzUkh2elrSfvJWXRahuXRgNTdx06KxYvDW8W_C4L5BWAvm-3M3U8ILuA2-uW0ShOlHGGGaBirhqfM4M7ypf2vHqeh9qHXKBtdTrVZcfkclLom4hZLJNXXrsVXI0SpAJ1iAVrXzdUpbvu/s320/IMG_5427L.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy Ross House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IHiDghckPSpSGzwM3-y1cqfb6Mqc9AplKmyJu-T2yuCg-P47uV8GYarThqd1n6jNmS1k30t3Ckrz9HfI0P2QJhhT85DZA4qgGInp11Ilj4izFlSMdwibixo8zpScbur3ycdTrmcJFDDd/s1600/IMG_5432L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IHiDghckPSpSGzwM3-y1cqfb6Mqc9AplKmyJu-T2yuCg-P47uV8GYarThqd1n6jNmS1k30t3Ckrz9HfI0P2QJhhT85DZA4qgGInp11Ilj4izFlSMdwibixo8zpScbur3ycdTrmcJFDDd/s320/IMG_5432L.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WFXx5RmJQHhopdWWvi1cy1XOpE_YN1Hij6MO7OdcLKKSnZBEJ9dfZ53rnp66bM6iPAinLpWmelVopMJC-ajXo4tt4WjeCvSeLipcll7_CaV6g69K0Jpss6GDumWZFWoy1Qm50g54W5DQ/s1600/IMG_5442L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WFXx5RmJQHhopdWWvi1cy1XOpE_YN1Hij6MO7OdcLKKSnZBEJ9dfZ53rnp66bM6iPAinLpWmelVopMJC-ajXo4tt4WjeCvSeLipcll7_CaV6g69K0Jpss6GDumWZFWoy1Qm50g54W5DQ/s320/IMG_5442L.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elfreths Alley</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo205CFf6flz8lsV1D0LW090Lvk2fjLbdlNxBtiMWp2bdLlNe2-jpY7IWDopEi7HSe81ZnXQxNvlMEhhITtbg1uRaaFzrL6tNq3UuxohPb6weSHlHyTkh25hA39bV-LVgKv8VxC-NYwVg/s1600/IMG_5461L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo205CFf6flz8lsV1D0LW090Lvk2fjLbdlNxBtiMWp2bdLlNe2-jpY7IWDopEi7HSe81ZnXQxNvlMEhhITtbg1uRaaFzrL6tNq3UuxohPb6weSHlHyTkh25hA39bV-LVgKv8VxC-NYwVg/s200/IMG_5461L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The rest of the day I spent strolling around Washington Square and the streets to the west. Washington Square is one of the five original planned squares laid out on the city grid by William Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme. It contains the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier and, as you can imagine, is a popular place to take the kids to play, walk the dog, or just sit and relax.<br />
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Many of the streets in the Washington Square West section are throwbacks to the colonial days of the city - Manning, Delancey, Clinton, Panama, Pine, Quince, and Camac, to name a few. Some of the streets are so narrow that I saw a workman in a pickup truck driving down the street with wheels on both curbs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKQjEbXSNmypGGwzD96eX_WL7jf3j_0gP3ylBptTrkDBovWQFRQ33aF7nusiR56CyXmJh8SYBJQo4LSimcuic9pDS0DbqV_chZdf6HQwWkf5ClXxCnwtW6pRT4IK8J7bt_yy5p2R2cO-u/s1600/IMG_5469L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKQjEbXSNmypGGwzD96eX_WL7jf3j_0gP3ylBptTrkDBovWQFRQ33aF7nusiR56CyXmJh8SYBJQo4LSimcuic9pDS0DbqV_chZdf6HQwWkf5ClXxCnwtW6pRT4IK8J7bt_yy5p2R2cO-u/s320/IMG_5469L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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On my way back to Suburban Station to catch the train home, I also managed the capture a few shots of City Hall and Love Park. The two pictures included here were obviously altered in Photoshop to gain the desired effect.<br />
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.Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-10763183943961650182011-05-10T18:28:00.006-04:002011-05-10T19:01:45.008-04:002011 Philadelphia Flower Show<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Every few years we pay a visit to the Philadelphia Flower show. This past March we made another visit. The show is the "largest indoor flower show in the world" attracting more than 250,000 people annually. The show features large-scale gardens, which range from elaborate landscaped displays to individual and club entries of a prize horticultural specimen. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qmnG8m4CSH6W-f-C7ZBKR0IH_SUDwZRyTsmmI9S-hSByC9yBLqf_i3kpAzXskG8tKYWXI1nk7YDtc8QwZR5_8-Ql7YGWXPdT_ReU7cQmuJ3pFc0HR2iQohyphenhyphenoWuRSnVWFIRYzhbgbM4px/s1600/IMG_5405L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qmnG8m4CSH6W-f-C7ZBKR0IH_SUDwZRyTsmmI9S-hSByC9yBLqf_i3kpAzXskG8tKYWXI1nk7YDtc8QwZR5_8-Ql7YGWXPdT_ReU7cQmuJ3pFc0HR2iQohyphenhyphenoWuRSnVWFIRYzhbgbM4px/s320/IMG_5405L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Each year there is an official theme, which serves as the inspiration for most exhibits. This year the theme was “Springtime in Paris”. Displays included a "Phantom of the Opera" tableau, a wedding at Notre Dame, floral carousel animals, a mini-Arc de Triomphe and Centre Pompidou, and a scene from the Paris cemetery where rocker Jim Morrison and composer Frederic Chopin are buried. The centerpiece of the exhibit area was a partial replica of the Eiffel Tower that was featured in a music and light show every fifteen minutes.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgxwppDpqmOM9AxSnuI1XOUDjpmnE8xSUPPdPMs_3v3Tf2wArbasFKq0Ecz1QNr4ztQIpPf0sFnlz7Fo98s5I7S_pe_brZcGXMRYFZBCFdgWQ-ow2Cmp9qWUoEjX-XxQ9XJ1io0xu1c0h/s1600/IMG_5307L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgxwppDpqmOM9AxSnuI1XOUDjpmnE8xSUPPdPMs_3v3Tf2wArbasFKq0Ecz1QNr4ztQIpPf0sFnlz7Fo98s5I7S_pe_brZcGXMRYFZBCFdgWQ-ow2Cmp9qWUoEjX-XxQ9XJ1io0xu1c0h/s320/IMG_5307L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">We always enjoy the spectacular displays from the local landscaping companies and my personal favorite - the display area featuring the extensive array of bonsai trees.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Another popular part of the show floor is the very large Garden Marketplace where you can buy plants and seeds, cut flowers, craft items, and other flower, landscaping and horticulture-related items. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">However, there’s one thing that we don’t look forward to, which keeps us from attending every year, and that is fighting the big crowds. In past years we’ve always tried to get there in the morning, but it has always been very crowded. This year we thought we would try getting there late afternoon, but the result was the same. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">.</span>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-52594956685708624192010-11-30T16:23:00.008-05:002010-12-01T14:02:59.012-05:00U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis, MD<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As I mentioned in my previous blog entry… Last month we decided to get away for a few days and took a trip down to Maryland. The plan was to spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Ocean City, then make a stop in St. Michaels on Thursday afternoon on the way up to Annapolis where we would spend Thursday night. Everything went according to plan except it was pouring down rain all day Thursday. So our stop in St. Michaels turned out to be very short, since walking around town in the rain was not a good option. It also curtailed some of our planned sightseeing around Annapolis on Thursday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We decided to spend Friday touring the U.S. Naval Academy, and it turned out to be a beautiful day. We didn’t realize it, but this happened to be the weekend of a major powerboat show in Annapolis. On the downside, the town was packed with people and cars and the harbor was literally packed with powerboats of all kinds and sizes. On the upside, because of the show our hotel was running a regular shuttle service to the harbor, which was only two blocks from the USNA entrance - so we didn’t have to worry about driving down and finding parking.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh818J4Mq7cN6a8wKaaeXFq_pjtowtO7LWdEaylIbO-yTO3-GPJfkYjE2EnnhLNBqTGpbWLkU8xKkSoNVdSB4YJ2x1z0RWJSksbpga46-KnJyHsLcdeLH2Jf4CwMbq8txdUhvqxq1RLETQS/s1600/IMG_4969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh818J4Mq7cN6a8wKaaeXFq_pjtowtO7LWdEaylIbO-yTO3-GPJfkYjE2EnnhLNBqTGpbWLkU8xKkSoNVdSB4YJ2x1z0RWJSksbpga46-KnJyHsLcdeLH2Jf4CwMbq8txdUhvqxq1RLETQS/s200/IMG_4969.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Naval Academy grounds are open to the public – you just have to show your driver’s license to security at the visitor’s entrance. The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center is the place to start. It houses a very extensive USNA gift shop as well as many exhibits depicting life at the Academy over the years and honoring many of the famous midshipmen who attended. The centerpiece of the museum is the “Graduates in Space” exhibit honoring the 51 astronauts who graduated from the USNA, the most from any institution. To me the most impressive exhibit in the entire center is the actual Mercury Freedom 7 space capsule flown into space by Alan Shepard in 1961 - a real part of history when I was growing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Visitors are free to walk around the grounds and enter the buildings on their own, but we decided to take one of the escorted walking tours. The $9.50 per person fee is worth it, just for the narration and background information provided by the guide. The walking tour lasts about 1.25 hours. The campus is totally isolated from the town and is very beautiful. The sense of history is everywhere. The architecture of the halls, classroom buildings, and officers’ quarters is very impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IuQboB2P5t1FGwGIPTM3erQvNIwGLuZxjFQxszBmnzPz01sLmVD4M2NTi7z1fpftIhTLtE_j-CbXidkHvdz_ndQzxVtHbXUd6IQaWjjqJ-_0YAQc_lDrlqpAaOb2V-Q8Wb-7sHTKq-2a/s1600/IMG_4987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IuQboB2P5t1FGwGIPTM3erQvNIwGLuZxjFQxszBmnzPz01sLmVD4M2NTi7z1fpftIhTLtE_j-CbXidkHvdz_ndQzxVtHbXUd6IQaWjjqJ-_0YAQc_lDrlqpAaOb2V-Q8Wb-7sHTKq-2a/s320/IMG_4987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homes for Ranking Officers & Professors</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdawXuzck1h_vtIo5gcGDvX91Cc-OIp1RAodtWkanLRhNCMe51vJRGLY0Kd9c5lP__Iem6N5ImKthmNIN-Lpm_ghVbWo8acUI-jfJtqZOqbmFsFCIXZNPuj8RaU3SDlQp6Aelj2_1ktDE/s1600/IMG_4978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdawXuzck1h_vtIo5gcGDvX91Cc-OIp1RAodtWkanLRhNCMe51vJRGLY0Kd9c5lP__Iem6N5ImKthmNIN-Lpm_ghVbWo8acUI-jfJtqZOqbmFsFCIXZNPuj8RaU3SDlQp6Aelj2_1ktDE/s200/IMG_4978.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Our tour started in the Lejeune Physical Education Center, which houses an Olympic-class swimming pool, a mat room for wrestling and hand-to-hand martial arts, and the Athletic Hall of Fame. There are many trophies in the hall of fame but those that stand out are the two Heisman trophies won by Joe Bellino in 1960 and Roger Staubach in 1963, plus the game balls from every Navy win in the Army-Navy football game dating back to 1890.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tecumseh Statue</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">If you have a chance to visit the USNA, make a point to be there at noon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Every day at noon the entire Brigade of Midshipmen forms for uniform inspection and a march into the mess hall for lunch, complete with marching band.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">There was quite a crowd gathered by the time we got there from our tour, so it was difficult taking pictures.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">The formation takes place in Tecumseh Court at the entrance to Bancroft Hall.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Bancroft Hall is actually a complex of halls that comprises the largest college dormitory in the world and houses all of the 4,500+ midshipmen. At the entrance to Tecumseh Court is the statue of Tecumseh, which is decorated and painted by the midshipmen for special occasions. There are also two bells in the court which are rung for each win of Navy over Army in all sports.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_3Y0VDPJtKUrbFNQpq3AzngFgBfo8KsS2TMEZ313XcsOmw-0E5n8X_9AI1gw_eno-qzTWZaRGqjCdFoEWHNc8JjIkohngWmVzJXtbzIoDeW3-4Zhj7hJzE1f5pO9jIpoPz1jsj0xvXQE/s1600/IMG_5029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_3Y0VDPJtKUrbFNQpq3AzngFgBfo8KsS2TMEZ313XcsOmw-0E5n8X_9AI1gw_eno-qzTWZaRGqjCdFoEWHNc8JjIkohngWmVzJXtbzIoDeW3-4Zhj7hJzE1f5pO9jIpoPz1jsj0xvXQE/s200/IMG_5029.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Japanese Bell</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.S.S. Enterprise Bell</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpN1CpfmL0UPuHCHTWbOeUns70M0on1WhVqbQhKZqddyIa43vSu6wKcyHFgjezpbV5e87IEcYPCwoEfKKSWyy9w6FIiN4y1tDQAzx4n72CGJDn2oz5VMGP5j3oM58L31ed6bwXDY5Egbb/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpN1CpfmL0UPuHCHTWbOeUns70M0on1WhVqbQhKZqddyIa43vSu6wKcyHFgjezpbV5e87IEcYPCwoEfKKSWyy9w6FIiN4y1tDQAzx4n72CGJDn2oz5VMGP5j3oM58L31ed6bwXDY5Egbb/s200/IMG_5004.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Another highlight of the tour was the Naval Academy Chapel. The architecture of the chapel is stunning – from the distinctive green copper dome on the outside to the beautiful stained glass windows and high domed ceiling on the inside. The chapel is used for both Protestant and Catholic weekly services and, as you can imagine, is very popular for weddings. The lower level of the chapel also houses the remains of John Paul Jones in a beautiful marble sarcophagus. The interesting story of John Paul Jones’ life and death is told around the perimeter of the display.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Paul Jones Sarcophagus</td></tr>
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As I said earlier, we didn’t get to see much of the town of Annapolis due to the rain and the crowds, so I’d really like to go back for a visit in quieter times so we can walk around and photograph the town.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">If you have a chance, please check out my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">. I also have two new shops - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou?rf=238182963839131114">Zazzle Gifts</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou_prints?rf=238850049914678434">Zazzle Prints & Posters</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-20811032913826780622010-10-23T14:59:00.012-04:002010-12-02T13:54:54.031-05:00Ocean City, Maryland<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Last week we decided to get away for a few days and took a trip down to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:state></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">. The plan was to spend Tuesday and Wednesday night in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">, then make a stop in St. Michaels on Thursday afternoon on the way up to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Annapolis</st1:place></st1:city></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> where we would spend Thursday night.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToAMZOeQRLmligmZHaMVtlhXZvXcnNdRDuQb-emqDuBL6pRWi4bsgL_5dhKTyHMvMbaQWWmBHbns9jA6K_UwvGNF3F_rRJcmcZacc6z_fECztbQasZk10FRMSnGZzmOC9Tuek6iHJDnv4/s1600/IMG_4832_C1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToAMZOeQRLmligmZHaMVtlhXZvXcnNdRDuQb-emqDuBL6pRWi4bsgL_5dhKTyHMvMbaQWWmBHbns9jA6K_UwvGNF3F_rRJcmcZacc6z_fECztbQasZk10FRMSnGZzmOC9Tuek6iHJDnv4/s320/IMG_4832_C1.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3Re82ZSU9OrlmyTdYVlmgF80ZB6U5m0-XjtOgBYFg5_E_jCN1xAcyUzI-qEc7lsQI_XbyYwXIjThMKS-TfnMgTQglblGzq8R_rBsr-GT8FbL7mCiRxOfyxKvV_JMbe4SkjM43Sgs-A4m/s1600/IMG_4851_C1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3Re82ZSU9OrlmyTdYVlmgF80ZB6U5m0-XjtOgBYFg5_E_jCN1xAcyUzI-qEc7lsQI_XbyYwXIjThMKS-TfnMgTQglblGzq8R_rBsr-GT8FbL7mCiRxOfyxKvV_JMbe4SkjM43Sgs-A4m/s320/IMG_4851_C1.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">We’ve never been to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Maryland</st1:state></st1:place> so we didn’t know exactly what to expect. Our first impression driving down the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Coastal Highway</st1:address></st1:street> was how long <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> is – from <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">146<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup> Street</st1:address></st1:street> all the way down to <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">st</span></sup> Street</st1:address></st1:street>. We were also surprised by the large number of very tall high-rise condo buildings through the middle of town.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIaAQ3qNzahPBkG48-mnY-LxowNwXbHu_Hsrv7n3kkb24lfBz06poTi0ej28KQny44atTajIPeN5tQV4ZB_BLY2inr-ps8Ymb8GvM8m45JtbiPWIMw5e5FGZNOEvpTnnK8LRA1GZdMIr3/s1600/IMG_4871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIaAQ3qNzahPBkG48-mnY-LxowNwXbHu_Hsrv7n3kkb24lfBz06poTi0ej28KQny44atTajIPeN5tQV4ZB_BLY2inr-ps8Ymb8GvM8m45JtbiPWIMw5e5FGZNOEvpTnnK8LRA1GZdMIr3/s200/IMG_4871.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since we’ve been going to the <st1:state w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:state> shore all of our lives – mostly <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> and Wildwood – it’s natural for us to compare <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> with those resorts. To be fair, it’s difficult since this is the off-season and most of the restaurants and shops were closed, but I’d say <st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">MD</st1:state> is a cross between Wildwood and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NJ</st1:state></st1:place>. Judging from the number of bars, clubs, and liquor stores in Ocean City, MD, I’m guessing that during the summer it’s a real party town – much like Wildwood. To me, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NJ</st1:state></st1:place> has the advantage of being a completely dry town, so it’s much more appealing to people who desire a more family-oriented experience. On the plus side, there appeared to be many more restaurants in <st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">MD</st1:state> and the town itself – hotels, motels, condos, and apartment buildings – seemed to be a notch above either of the <st1:place w:st="on">Jersey</st1:place> shore resorts. Although in terms of class, they all pale in comparison to a resort like <st1:place w:st="on">Hilton Head Island</st1:place> where we’ve spent many vacations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In the off-season, the boardwalk is open to dogs, so it was a little strange seeing all of the dogs and their owners walking up and down the boards. The boardwalk in <st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">MD</st1:state> is not as extensive as the boardwalk in Wildwood and is more like the one in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NJ</st1:state></st1:place>. If I were to compare the boardwalks for things to do, I’d say Wildwood, NJ > <st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NJ</st1:state> > <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ocean City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">MD.</st1:state></st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpDryMG-B-qPh29X4jE9SN7N0HRGyt9OW_x-5JajIfLv9CBYRKfmwfUA6oxRm_7FVBHebkRdyJIP4ko9d5U7BIdGrAZu8NEqZ7Rq3Fap_qOfazdOVAGXrEAA_q8HNNyscayQuFl-x6HRq/s1600/IMG_4846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpDryMG-B-qPh29X4jE9SN7N0HRGyt9OW_x-5JajIfLv9CBYRKfmwfUA6oxRm_7FVBHebkRdyJIP4ko9d5U7BIdGrAZu8NEqZ7Rq3Fap_qOfazdOVAGXrEAA_q8HNNyscayQuFl-x6HRq/s200/IMG_4846.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">While in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>, we stayed at the Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront, an all-suites hotel located on the beach at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">33<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">rd</span></sup> Street</st1:address></st1:street>. We had a good-sized king suite looking directly out over the beach and ocean with a complete kitchen, living room, two large flat panel TVs, and large bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. It was a typical resort hotel on the beach with three pools – a large adult pool and a children’s activity pool outside, plus a very nice heated indoor pool. I would highly recommend the hotel for a weekday, off-season stay, since our rate was only $127.00 per night. I’m not sure if the $499.00 per night rate for the room during July and August would be worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2vglPYxJPqsIIt_Rtb1U0w3TUg2bfooSmv4NPKedACuP65GNUqFnI2QilFAuI_KicHyJOXNChEzdmKpz3Khhpd47dUYLkEZJ5K13Q5rGsgD3PjVHd-B_Mjrp2WCoj3FtkzhysaoBPAOP/s1600/IMG_4844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2vglPYxJPqsIIt_Rtb1U0w3TUg2bfooSmv4NPKedACuP65GNUqFnI2QilFAuI_KicHyJOXNChEzdmKpz3Khhpd47dUYLkEZJ5K13Q5rGsgD3PjVHd-B_Mjrp2WCoj3FtkzhysaoBPAOP/s200/IMG_4844.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">One downside about staying in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Ocean</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> on weekdays in October is that most of the eating establishments are only open on the weekends or are closed for the season. On the first night we stopped at a Dough Roller on the boardwalk for hoagies, but we wanted something a little nicer the second night. After checking out a couple of places that turned out to be closed, we noticed some cars parked outside the Ristorante Antipasti at 31<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">st</span></sup> and Coastal Highway not too far from the hotel, so we decided to give it a try. It turned out to be our lucky night since they have an off-season, Wednesday night special - all pasta entrees were only $8.50 instead of the normal $22.00 to $26.00. At that price the food was great and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice, although the very Italian owner who greeted us, Fausto DiCarlo, was a little overbearing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">My next blog entry will cover our visit to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Annapolis</st1:place></st1:city> and tour of the U.S. Naval Academy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a>. I also have two new shops - <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou?rf=238182963839131114">Zazzle Gifts</a> and <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou_prints?rf=238850049914678434">Zazzle Prints & Posters</a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div></span>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-17311643464743248572010-09-16T15:02:00.000-04:002010-09-16T15:02:13.470-04:00Sunflowers!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ryXUFBf3r4jquuCBpke4M8QOtigwTfJTwvgMJYKIyXojfsrxejAyDd-i35V4YnL5CvrfLiDkB7dvqXwEmaoM0DtNymZ5kb0jT3ABrVzO4v9kRTuSAOLm7noyHSP3rF4ny2j9fansO0Dn/s1600/IMG_4807L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ryXUFBf3r4jquuCBpke4M8QOtigwTfJTwvgMJYKIyXojfsrxejAyDd-i35V4YnL5CvrfLiDkB7dvqXwEmaoM0DtNymZ5kb0jT3ABrVzO4v9kRTuSAOLm7noyHSP3rF4ny2j9fansO0Dn/s200/IMG_4807L.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Last Friday we took one of our regular drives down to <st1:placename w:st="on">Longwood</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kennett</st1:city> Square, <st1:state w:st="on">PA.</st1:state></st1:place> We wanted to check out what was in bloom in the gardens but we also heard about a secondary project they had going this summer. Apparently, Longwood owns about 120 acres of farmland around the gardens that they lease out to local farmers to maintain. This year they decided to use 22 acres of that land to plant a crop of sunflowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG4nxWvTE8ChyGAF1sK65Uh76S3RnK4w34-lov6mQRJroFOppY8BGOfyNLkd5xEKE8BectckvnTO5tIz45UuyEUiMFaUa-81SFY8rpxKJYXxJlrwVT3beMu7QD143XcfUaRJ8EhnFfVXR/s1600/IMG_4802L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG4nxWvTE8ChyGAF1sK65Uh76S3RnK4w34-lov6mQRJroFOppY8BGOfyNLkd5xEKE8BectckvnTO5tIz45UuyEUiMFaUa-81SFY8rpxKJYXxJlrwVT3beMu7QD143XcfUaRJ8EhnFfVXR/s200/IMG_4802L.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The sunflower field is outside the boundaries of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Longwood</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype></st1:place>, so there’s no admission to worry about. If you go west on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Longwood Road</st1:address></st1:street> a mile or two from the gardens it’s just past <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Schoolhouse Road</st1:address></st1:street> on the right. Last Friday we were told the crop was slightly past its peak, so there may not be much time left to see it in full bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">If you like sunflowers, the display is spectacular… even if you don’t like sunflowers, it’s still spectacular. Sunflowers almost as far as the eye can see – an estimated 463,300 based on the number of seeds planted and a normal viability rate of 90%. The pictures don’t do it justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a>. I also have two new shops - <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou?rf=238182963839131114">Zazzle Gifts</a> and <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou_prints?rf=238850049914678434">Zazzle Prints & Posters</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-58503893466328896082010-08-19T17:10:00.002-04:002010-08-19T21:45:54.463-04:00Wildwood Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzgbLhVmM7SRUpD9qwDdrKS7nLHPhEA7dgJ7mOcCiJBYuXG67qWo1AEUhhej0Fmsu__kiSL_9YL2iOSRvnJHsfrtda72rl4k3H273_FuivwSqF8lIEgXn2iS_HCScFKW_pYwCy3te1aRc/s1600/IMG_0427_L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzgbLhVmM7SRUpD9qwDdrKS7nLHPhEA7dgJ7mOcCiJBYuXG67qWo1AEUhhej0Fmsu__kiSL_9YL2iOSRvnJHsfrtda72rl4k3H273_FuivwSqF8lIEgXn2iS_HCScFKW_pYwCy3te1aRc/s200/IMG_0427_L.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">We recently took a drive down to Wildwood, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:state></st1:place>. We spent the day walking up and down the boardwalk and did some of the things you have to do when you visit Wildwood – like having pizza and birch beer for lunch at Mack’s Pizza and a Kohr Bros. swirl ice cream cone for dessert. We also had to make a stop at Douglass Fudge to pick up a box of wrapped mints to take home. We haven’t been to Wildwood for a number of years but it hasn’t changed too much – although there do seem to be many more cheap t-shirt shops on the boardwalk than there used to be, and the ocean has gotten a lot farther away from the boardwalk than the old days. Even so, just hearing "Watch the Tram Car Please" again brought back many memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoHp_ROW79WN85BLVC1ofuDBRIzp6M8-GtltjFVCE60yVUZndgPF193oLtdTwav4Zo2PWWQQbTdDyjBfXaw3w_O7qVeiLUyHv7q69KyWa2N2XSO-pZYF125CG4_3TddOAtjozuFpLXzLx/s1600/IMG_0418_L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoHp_ROW79WN85BLVC1ofuDBRIzp6M8-GtltjFVCE60yVUZndgPF193oLtdTwav4Zo2PWWQQbTdDyjBfXaw3w_O7qVeiLUyHv7q69KyWa2N2XSO-pZYF125CG4_3TddOAtjozuFpLXzLx/s320/IMG_0418_L.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The biggest memory it brought back was of our honeymoon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">My wife and I were married in June of 1971. It was after my first year of grad school, we didn’t have a lot of money and we had to move all of our stuff out to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:state></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">, so we decided to take a short honeymoon in Wildwood and save the “real” honeymoon for later.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We stayed at the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> motel in Wildwood Crest and had a wonderful time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The weather at the shore can be very iffy in June, but that week was perfect.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I included two pictures of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> – one taken last month and one taken in 1971 on our honeymoon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The motel looks like it’s in very good shape since it was recently renovated - after it was declared an historic Doo Wop landmark in 2004.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Whenever someone asks me where we went on our honeymoon I just say we went to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Maybe for our 40</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> anniversary next year we’ll go to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> – I’m not sure which one yet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">By the way… we did go on a “real” honeymoon two years later to Disneyworld and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Miami Beach</st1:city></st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcLhKmA6wklQukVjJaNA0EshV9IZAfeGPYyZ6H_OtzElloewW4hJKxioAw6uATGfQFC90X3ln3Mq3Axewny2klxIE-HvpGtMJTQyqQdFtuYanBUDscr3bFKG8pfurKrnDfcagEWERHxJv/s1600/IMG_0463_L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcLhKmA6wklQukVjJaNA0EshV9IZAfeGPYyZ6H_OtzElloewW4hJKxioAw6uATGfQFC90X3ln3Mq3Axewny2klxIE-HvpGtMJTQyqQdFtuYanBUDscr3bFKG8pfurKrnDfcagEWERHxJv/s320/IMG_0463_L.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When I was growing up in the 1950’s in the Kensington section of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:city>, there was one thing I always looked forward to in the summer and that was going down the shore for a week with my grandparents or my Aunt Elsie. Two of my great aunts and uncles owned places in Wildwood. My Aunt Anna Belle and Uncle Fred owned The Frederick Hotel on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Oak Avenue</st1:address></st1:street> near <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">New Jersey Avenue</st1:address></st1:street>, and my Aunt Ruth and Uncle George owned the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Maple</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Court</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Motel</st1:placename></st1:place> on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Maple Avenue</st1:address></st1:street> near <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Atlantic Avenue</st1:address></st1:street>. We usually stayed on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Oak Avenue</st1:address></st1:street>. Both places are long gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ9_cW0pUCw9z7yRT-bI6s0rRtiU4gv1foeQ7W0Zm0ZXrfEp-82hfsBXNUPpJiWWsr_p5e_ArCpqt-AWbX3fwUmN6dhHHxpahOe0_wZ2xbDDVmkxuL9qbs_KwrY19ZmZ1vdBKZfdkQ8HW/s1600/OnTheBeach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ9_cW0pUCw9z7yRT-bI6s0rRtiU4gv1foeQ7W0Zm0ZXrfEp-82hfsBXNUPpJiWWsr_p5e_ArCpqt-AWbX3fwUmN6dhHHxpahOe0_wZ2xbDDVmkxuL9qbs_KwrY19ZmZ1vdBKZfdkQ8HW/s200/OnTheBeach.JPG" width="198" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Spending the week down the shore with my cousins was a lot of fun. There were three things I wanted to do every day… play golf in the morning with my grandfather at our favorite miniature golf course on the boardwalk, go to the beach in the afternoon to play in the sand and water, and walk the boardwalk and go on as many rides as possible at night. We didn’t do it very often, but my favorite thing of all was getting up early in the morning, renting bikes, and riding up and down the boardwalk. To me that was the ultimate. When I got a little older I also loved hitting balls with my father at the “Automatic Base Ball” pitching machine on the boardwalk to see how many homers I could hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWuT1wJlkM436M1Zoe13d5jMmpYQpDrQq55cgDfPVCA75ubU5neqLJf5YY1NSaB-VNZOxink0wO8HSspaxmjyqXPUgSKNPdRRTmF2Q7A3x2FmQI4HJjv3zfm2OFloYfvK8W9w13CT-bX1/s1600/Grandpop&MeGolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWuT1wJlkM436M1Zoe13d5jMmpYQpDrQq55cgDfPVCA75ubU5neqLJf5YY1NSaB-VNZOxink0wO8HSspaxmjyqXPUgSKNPdRRTmF2Q7A3x2FmQI4HJjv3zfm2OFloYfvK8W9w13CT-bX1/s320/Grandpop&MeGolf.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvYCJMxMnN3GQaYfzrwLC0Al99SmkUgD2nMMAnIMvSa0ZMtEbJcgMXsd-MKvA5jJ0IgkpvLTIdU09TQ872QKZVEmsG7K_J2_OMV9mdEk-VaSLc8RLJF-mpgYe3OP6Eg12Ow0ROEEnVzd/s1600/HotRod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TvYCJMxMnN3GQaYfzrwLC0Al99SmkUgD2nMMAnIMvSa0ZMtEbJcgMXsd-MKvA5jJ0IgkpvLTIdU09TQ872QKZVEmsG7K_J2_OMV9mdEk-VaSLc8RLJF-mpgYe3OP6Eg12Ow0ROEEnVzd/s200/HotRod.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">One of my favorite places on the boardwalk was the Casino Arcade at <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Oak Avenue</st1:address></st1:street>. Like everyone else, my favorite boardwalk game was skee-ball. I would play every day to see how many coupons I could accumulate by the end of the week. I usually had enough to maybe get a little plastic dinosaur. I have many memories of the arcade, some a little fuzzier than others. I remember the carousel, the Glass House Mirror Maze, and the Mars ride, which tragically burned in 1964, killing three children. I also remember a ball toss game where if you hit the target, a cage door would open and a little pig would run out, slide down a sliding board into the hay, and then run back up a ramp and go back into the cage. I’m not sure if that was real or just a recurring dream I was having at the time. I also remember the indoor pavilion along the ramp we walked up from <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Oak Avenue</st1:address></st1:street> that housed a boat ride in the early days with boats you piloted yourself. The boats were eventually replaced by an indoor miniature golf course.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Going back to Wildwood also brought back some not so good memories. In the late 1960’s I used to go to Wildwood with my best friend Art Green. We both enjoyed going on all the wild rides. He’s shown in the picture with me when I finally managed to hit the bull’s eye at the Photo Shoot booth in the arcade. Sadly, Artie passed away not too many years later. He was the best pal a guy could ever hope to have. By the way… I’m not really a left-handed shot, for some reason they always seemed to print the photos backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzN6VLW37Xm3Q0mtSKo0r82_kGRaCCrjxKS_xuBBKFvJ3NxGwEEfhhOXbupyVhfR6a-hp89mLpGLdFhjW68oJapOtz9exdk5Ru2MZBkoueOPEzXV2fZJrcYlWYC6GZgjaEMstmatA6_cRY/s1600/PhotoShoot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzN6VLW37Xm3Q0mtSKo0r82_kGRaCCrjxKS_xuBBKFvJ3NxGwEEfhhOXbupyVhfR6a-hp89mLpGLdFhjW68oJapOtz9exdk5Ru2MZBkoueOPEzXV2fZJrcYlWYC6GZgjaEMstmatA6_cRY/s320/PhotoShoot+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuJ2zfvW-kDkOAp_wDVNucGjaVq4t3IlwYagXLDXW6ISsed82LuA5yAVJv8sHoB0xATlHr4SNOPSQmKbLNciXx2UuRiLVTKVOxDZFBaHbKgLqB8s0qHkZ8nldWlldgOl4DlmeIEVKGFMd/s1600/HobieCats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuJ2zfvW-kDkOAp_wDVNucGjaVq4t3IlwYagXLDXW6ISsed82LuA5yAVJv8sHoB0xATlHr4SNOPSQmKbLNciXx2UuRiLVTKVOxDZFBaHbKgLqB8s0qHkZ8nldWlldgOl4DlmeIEVKGFMd/s200/HobieCats.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Being in Wildwood again also brought back memories of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when we used to go down the shore with our kids, Kim and Bryan. We always stayed in Wildwood Crest at various motels or rented apartments. Like most people we spent most of the day on the beach building sand castles and burying each other in the sand. The late 1980’s was when boogie boarding started to get big, so we did a lot of boogie boarding and body surfing in the waves. We managed to be in Wildwood Crest a few times during the Hobie Cat Regatta, which is a very colorful experience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadEvwXGoGuH6EU8higub9cGvJ_MMjXSVIlIt2X40Ho3RY1Q8ljfrHVi9KN5sFIVP0TehyGAKV97h2fDlL_SI4_yY2vCpOZM_GePth0b8D4XHSj0y1iOJIDULM18wpmWM1ShLMM1QojOyA/s1600/Boogie+Boarding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadEvwXGoGuH6EU8higub9cGvJ_MMjXSVIlIt2X40Ho3RY1Q8ljfrHVi9KN5sFIVP0TehyGAKV97h2fDlL_SI4_yY2vCpOZM_GePth0b8D4XHSj0y1iOJIDULM18wpmWM1ShLMM1QojOyA/s320/Boogie+Boarding.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">One day on each visit we would get up early and ride rented bikes up and down the boardwalk in the morning – I wonder why? The kids had their favorite rides on the boardwalk. Kim’s favorite was the Giant Slide on Hunt’s Pier, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bryan</st1:city></st1:place> loved riding the Dune Buggy. Anyone who went to Wildwood in the 1980’s has to have memories of the Super-Cade on the boardwalk with the horse race game and the strains of “Bip Bop Bippity Boo, We’re Pumping Out the Prizes!” over the loudspeaker all night. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I hope you weren’t bored with all of my family Wildwood memories, but I think any family who spent time in Wildwood over the years would have very similar memories. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">My only regret is that I didn’t take more pictures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a>. I also have two new shops - <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou?rf=238182963839131114">Zazzle Gifts</a> and <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou_prints?rf=238850049914678434">Zazzle Prints & Posters</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-7443189392628524192010-08-10T11:50:00.006-04:002010-08-18T10:13:22.118-04:00Reading Terminal Market - Philadelphia, PA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeHlQuUtqH8E4OvVeLgyDEyHy2EUWkREl8soGrR0G7RyOwdARUSuiiJUhGp6yIOTwP_6DjRM2rlmNyvdm7UKoKBhJX6vtn2etQFJK3IFJOQ3Uny_26X6oSqJq0oLH9JDlCxrwRj6imd-U/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeHlQuUtqH8E4OvVeLgyDEyHy2EUWkREl8soGrR0G7RyOwdARUSuiiJUhGp6yIOTwP_6DjRM2rlmNyvdm7UKoKBhJX6vtn2etQFJK3IFJOQ3Uny_26X6oSqJq0oLH9JDlCxrwRj6imd-U/s200/IMG_2785.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Reading Terminal Market, established in 1892 at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city></st1:place> (or center city, if you’re from the area), is the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market. Through its long and interesting history, it has seen times both good and bad, but has emerged in the 21st century as one of the greatest public markets in the country. The Reading Terminal Market occupies the ground floor and basement levels of the Reading Terminal's former train shed, now part of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Convention Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Long after the demise of the Reading Railroad and the transformation of the old train shed into a majestic hall as part of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Convention Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>, the Reading Terminal Market is more popular and prosperous than ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Along with the many eating establishments, there are also five produce markets, six butchers, five seafood stands, six bakeries, and 13 Pennsylvania Dutch vendors.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">f you live in the area, you can also pick up delicious meats, vegetables, and desserts for dinner.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The Market East commuter rail terminal is adjacent to the market so, if the timing is right, you can pick up your groceries and be home in the suburbs in less than an hour.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We can’t visit the market without picking up cannolis at Termini Brothers Bakery to take home on the train.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a>. I also have two new shops - <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou?rf=238182963839131114">Zazzle Gifts</a> and <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fordlou_prints?rf=238850049914678434">Zazzle Prints & Posters</a>.</span></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-57563241938112470592010-06-09T14:46:00.001-04:002010-06-09T14:52:37.367-04:00Longwood Waterlilies<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s been awhile since my last blog entry – partly because we haven’t been getting out much lately and partly because I’ve been busy – but hopefully I’ll be getting back to posting on a more regular schedule. For my first post since November I’d like to go back to a series of photos I took last September on a visit to the famous <st1:placename w:st="on">Longwood</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kennett</st1:city> Square, <st1:state w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state></st1:place>. We’ve been to Longwood on many occasions, but this visit was the first time I focused on the spectacular waterlily display. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tucked into a protected courtyard, this outdoor display features a wide variety of aquatic plants from all over the world. The pools are filled with more than 100 types of day and night-blooming tropical waterlilies, hardy water lilies, lotuses, giant water-platters and other aquatic and bog plants. The display was originally constructed in 1957 with 13 curving pools. It was subsequently redesigned into 5 larger pools to accommodate a greater variety of plants and reopened in 1989.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GLUZcnzQcDADzSUk2YzhtevA8zI4D_NzFmh6dq_JRPdTPGkjJCeMf3_QQdJ5dPasDtJHUnarmSS0FBa3nsI48vrBlCdNITqLtyuTToaGPCJDkRSMTeng4nQgO2EW1G5LKExS7lTCk1Qj/s1600/IMG_3681L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GLUZcnzQcDADzSUk2YzhtevA8zI4D_NzFmh6dq_JRPdTPGkjJCeMf3_QQdJ5dPasDtJHUnarmSS0FBa3nsI48vrBlCdNITqLtyuTToaGPCJDkRSMTeng4nQgO2EW1G5LKExS7lTCk1Qj/s200/IMG_3681L.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">The water in the 30"-deep pools is mixed with an organic black </span>dye to slow algae growth and to accentuate the plants, but this does not harm the fish or plants. The black dye also acts as wonderful background for photographers, reflecting the color of the waterlilies while obscuring any underwater roots or debris. The small fish in the pools are mosquito fish which feed upon mosquito and other insect larvae in shallow pools.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The giant hybrid water-platter in the center pool was first successfully hybridized at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Longwood</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The two South American parent species of this plant grow in the smaller side pools. Gardeners raise the enormous hybrid water-platter from seed started in late February each year. By summer, plants can produce spiny, 6-foot-diameter leaves in a matter of weeks. Each fully grown leaf can reliably support 80 to 100 pounds if the weight is evenly distributed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The outdoor waterlily display is open from June 1 through mid-October. Peak bloom occurs mid-July through the end of September.</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-84723138535625495572009-11-27T11:15:00.026-05:002010-06-09T13:40:24.803-04:00Plymouth, Massachusetts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr51xZ_-AqwKdXKMxoM05ZaDrfYAN8EwKJrz_eZutUf6Smj4LDc61Rpz8iAoFSDD1aWMmJWAEHdNyKyFKvMiFraAEqqwCejq5GSbjPyrIpNyOjEfVrzdJd1gsOWItwCdoan32AvYGG0UdN/s1600/IMG_3871L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr51xZ_-AqwKdXKMxoM05ZaDrfYAN8EwKJrz_eZutUf6Smj4LDc61Rpz8iAoFSDD1aWMmJWAEHdNyKyFKvMiFraAEqqwCejq5GSbjPyrIpNyOjEfVrzdJd1gsOWItwCdoan32AvYGG0UdN/s200/IMG_3871L.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the first half of our recent trip to New England, we visited the </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><st1:state w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Massachusetts</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> area. </span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is best known for being the site of the colony established by the Pilgrims, passengers of the Mayflower. </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> has a very interesting history. It was founded in 1620 and is the oldest municipality in New England and one of the oldest in the </span></span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">United States</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. It also is the oldest continually inhabited English settlement in the modern United States. The town has served as the location of several prominent events, the most notable being the First Thanksgiving feast. </span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> served as the capital of Plymouth Colony from its founding in 1620 until the colony's dissolution in 1691. Prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, the location of </span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> was a village of 2,000 Wampanoag Native Americans called Patuxet. This region that would become Plymouth was visited twice by European explorers prior to the establishment of Plymouth Colony. In 1605, Samuel de Champlain sailed to </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harbor</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, calling it Port St. Louis. In 1614, Captain John Smith, a leader of the </span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jamestown</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> settlement, explored parts of </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cape Cod</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">; he is credited with naming the region which would become the future Plymouth Colony as "New Plimouth."</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The town of </span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is a typical </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">New England</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> town with an interesting collection of homes, shops, restaurants, and museums. The main attractions of the town, of course, are Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II, which both lie along </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harbor</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPvyMVBA3uc2rrPCq7MsCBy2lkgctZ2uCdQ1zms_pBsGaeqJrz6C-QLraVkwkkjkGoAmqbo3wOCQN40v-6UfY7uGdkgex3ck0EEfnqTD-UaYNF2wT67D_wkvg_3f0k5_HtHrwOFhhyl2c/s1600/IMG_3912L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPvyMVBA3uc2rrPCq7MsCBy2lkgctZ2uCdQ1zms_pBsGaeqJrz6C-QLraVkwkkjkGoAmqbo3wOCQN40v-6UfY7uGdkgex3ck0EEfnqTD-UaYNF2wT67D_wkvg_3f0k5_HtHrwOFhhyl2c/s200/IMG_3912L.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Traditionally, Plymouth Rock is said to be the disembarkation site of the Pilgrims. However, there is no historical evidence to support this theory. The first identification of Plymouth Rock as the actual landing site was made in 1741 by 94-year-old Thomas Faunce, whose father had arrived in </span></span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> in 1623, three years after the arrival of the Mayflower. The rock is located roughly 650 feet from where the initial settlement was thought to be built. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">When the townspeople of</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">decided to move the rock in 1774, the rock was split into two halves, and it was decided to leave the bottom portion behind at the wharf and the top half was relocated to the town's meeting-house. During the Rock's many journeys throughout the town of </span></span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> numerous pieces of the Rock were taken, bought and sold. Today approximately one-third of the top portion remains.</span></span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQNrG0QxZ_GGm1T-Xw6qHATlhU-fd1nevTrjpxmBGVuaQ6ngwPy5BbLOkhcRwd1IIR1jjtPwDbw9uacYYcEo2NU31hIRF7xs7-Q1T4YvqmR3IqfKr_MkvQPP7yhMumNWGdvrbEpcgdk9S/s1600/IMG_3910L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQNrG0QxZ_GGm1T-Xw6qHATlhU-fd1nevTrjpxmBGVuaQ6ngwPy5BbLOkhcRwd1IIR1jjtPwDbw9uacYYcEo2NU31hIRF7xs7-Q1T4YvqmR3IqfKr_MkvQPP7yhMumNWGdvrbEpcgdk9S/s320/IMG_3910L.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3AxHR2rrbiO4OqUHKMmXnYPLnaWkLvzYiZfv8x9Yn2iJV2n7knz05pV7Fjhl9Lb9w_c9IW0tkMwXuE4Hu5YAmZQsFUJ7nU8PXnQ2yJs809WL6VKkQKCSbfcEQeI0ZTXuN438o7j6cI1F/s1600/IMG_3920L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3AxHR2rrbiO4OqUHKMmXnYPLnaWkLvzYiZfv8x9Yn2iJV2n7knz05pV7Fjhl9Lb9w_c9IW0tkMwXuE4Hu5YAmZQsFUJ7nU8PXnQ2yJs809WL6VKkQKCSbfcEQeI0ZTXuN438o7j6cI1F/s200/IMG_3920L.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">The Mayflower II is a full-size replica of the Mayflower, the ship which brought the Pilgrims to </span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> in 1620. It is located at the State Pier in </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Center</span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">. The ship is open as a museum about the Pilgrims' historic voyage from </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">, </span></span></span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">England</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">, and is considered a faithful replica of the original Mayflower. It is officially a part of Plimoth Plantation. The ship was built in </span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Brixham</span></span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">, </span></span></span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">England</span></span></span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> in 1956, and sailed to </span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> across the </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Atlantic Ocean</span></span></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> in 1957 by famous mariner Alan Villiers. The ship is still seaworthy, and routinely takes voyages around </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Harbor</span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">. When you're on the ship, it's hard to imagine about 120 people living there for the voyage across the ocean. There are also a few very realistic-looking sailors in character to answer any questions.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PHsyMqkDNlgFZbvfKpoMgcvcgB3jJs9CaXHoAbn63b96ZWoPEst8j2iyIB_px7KEctrkRq0-1eFSnruDJIjk-OFORbyp6gM6W2jLrUSQZj6FVzoIMEhneXkqfnahE1M5AIO0KiKaXPZU/s1600/IMG_3916L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PHsyMqkDNlgFZbvfKpoMgcvcgB3jJs9CaXHoAbn63b96ZWoPEst8j2iyIB_px7KEctrkRq0-1eFSnruDJIjk-OFORbyp6gM6W2jLrUSQZj6FVzoIMEhneXkqfnahE1M5AIO0KiKaXPZU/s320/IMG_3916L.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0oS-KBYTF7hZYdVmRB1qgq4w0A3ql9t4d3H2zVDTeDr4f9ckHqdn_0WQFqo9WRjYiFyIaJzMqTwRkn-HNqZk5z7Gb6w3KaV8Y7TWbASGzSQRasimsqbp0j_gQMUcNTvDjDv44Q5Z8PBT/s1600/IMG_3878L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0oS-KBYTF7hZYdVmRB1qgq4w0A3ql9t4d3H2zVDTeDr4f9ckHqdn_0WQFqo9WRjYiFyIaJzMqTwRkn-HNqZk5z7Gb6w3KaV8Y7TWbASGzSQRasimsqbp0j_gQMUcNTvDjDv44Q5Z8PBT/s200/IMG_3878L.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plimoth Plantation sits about three miles outside the town of Plymouth and is a living museum that reconstructs the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. The 1627 </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">English</span></span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Village</span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> is a speculative re-creation of the settlement as it would have appeared about 1627, seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower. No one knows exactly what Plymouth Colony looked like in 1627. The original colonists lived where the modern town of </span></span></span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Plymouth</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> is now. The 1627 </span></span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">English</span></span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Village</span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> re-creation is about one-third the size of the original colony and gives the visitor a picture of the homes, gardens, fields, work areas, animals, and people in 1627. The town is populated by “interpreters” who stay in character to </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">answer questions, discuss their lives and viewpoints and participate in tasks such as cooking, planting, blacksmithing and animal husbandry.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE-JByk0QbUVtU9Dmo4zA6VxrHRR0OHNU-Q3Cp3IieYL-Bwb9aIv9XQIoa7JzfXNXi3YkbPFAdIh9S0ml9LGsKQub-9itR4Z-IVZyKmUaLHwTOn_fP_GMMd8hlZr0xnNWhtKBRrCfph-b/s1600/IMG_3900L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE-JByk0QbUVtU9Dmo4zA6VxrHRR0OHNU-Q3Cp3IieYL-Bwb9aIv9XQIoa7JzfXNXi3YkbPFAdIh9S0ml9LGsKQub-9itR4Z-IVZyKmUaLHwTOn_fP_GMMd8hlZr0xnNWhtKBRrCfph-b/s320/IMG_3900L.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1flUkR57tY0VAL9ZZETjCI8paMLWbF9SzU1Wi2xhsNZItFsYhvT0lJoUsVRmErbQyx4zTZlPC4rvoFjn2mYBkcOVcdK9HpEWKS3VrM8KVexYYrVbINdAB-BfCOB4TKaoWMn0vFLX4eaTD/s1600/IMG_3901L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1flUkR57tY0VAL9ZZETjCI8paMLWbF9SzU1Wi2xhsNZItFsYhvT0lJoUsVRmErbQyx4zTZlPC4rvoFjn2mYBkcOVcdK9HpEWKS3VrM8KVexYYrVbINdAB-BfCOB4TKaoWMn0vFLX4eaTD/s320/IMG_3901L.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Dgf8lk5qiKabZEVYcpDVtPKi65DkZi9qdRkXlnzfDEbUn02Nt-IMINHpLoGRJRPnTApODCozJdNrB2eqlTFug_XXSeavn-kq1yzq6yYMV1fQ8owHb1mxCzylRzQdqRimygSgtNecCu8/s1600/IMG_3906L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Dgf8lk5qiKabZEVYcpDVtPKi65DkZi9qdRkXlnzfDEbUn02Nt-IMINHpLoGRJRPnTApODCozJdNrB2eqlTFug_XXSeavn-kq1yzq6yYMV1fQ8owHb1mxCzylRzQdqRimygSgtNecCu8/s200/IMG_3906L.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another part of the Plimoth Plantation experience is a recreation of a Wampanoag Homesite alongside the 1627 </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">English</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Village</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. The homesite is a re-created home and garden of a single 17</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-century Wampanoag family where you can interact with modern Native American People from a variety of nations who explain and demonstrate how the Wampanoag's ancestors lived and interacted with the settlers. Unlike the 1627 </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">English</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Village</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, there are no "characters" here. The staff is dressed in traditional deerskin clothing and answer questions from a 21</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-century viewpoint about the experiences of the Wampanoag.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7Uxp5oIWZ6Pqu0GELEW_qrr9crF1tYix2_-6cN9BUePzAUwyzIerLQt2nxevtwB5mrvcXFB0ey6K1jG0teVdoASSmgmuwl3NAXOVopFuAyWKMlegoSWHzFtsHk5NJvYv9rAKplg6OH_S/s1600/IMG_3908L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7Uxp5oIWZ6Pqu0GELEW_qrr9crF1tYix2_-6cN9BUePzAUwyzIerLQt2nxevtwB5mrvcXFB0ey6K1jG0teVdoASSmgmuwl3NAXOVopFuAyWKMlegoSWHzFtsHk5NJvYv9rAKplg6OH_S/s320/IMG_3908L.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">During our three night stay in the </span></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> area, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn just outside town. We’ve stayed at a number of HGI’s over the last few years in various locations. If you don’t want to pay for something overly fancy but still want something very nice, you always know what to expect with the Hilton Garden Inns because they’re all exactly the same. The room rate that includes the buffet breakfast is usually a good deal since the breakfast includes cooked-to-order hot dishes (eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, etc.).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections">Flickr Collections</a>.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-1693769942761513052009-11-18T15:24:00.040-05:002009-11-18T17:44:35.971-05:00Rockport, Massachusetts<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfMWxd3zgIVZLrs3aPvpVQAuhApJOq3NSW0KxuWWaIdrFlDNwHh5PRMMEeXsEvCsvdRfwSi-AoG82O-ZwFjMRj3r9LN1Fz_qiPv0d8JWtdN6iooo1G_u1YIKLbu2r-v64e_uxMsVkuNFV/s1600/IMG_3942L.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405548952945272514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfMWxd3zgIVZLrs3aPvpVQAuhApJOq3NSW0KxuWWaIdrFlDNwHh5PRMMEeXsEvCsvdRfwSi-AoG82O-ZwFjMRj3r9LN1Fz_qiPv0d8JWtdN6iooo1G_u1YIKLbu2r-v64e_uxMsVkuNFV/s200/IMG_3942L.JPG" /></a>On our recent trip to New England, we drove from </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Plymouth</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Massachusetts</span></span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On the way north, we decided to take a side trip to the scenic fishing </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">village</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rockport</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Massachusetts</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This wasn’t our first visit to Rockport.</span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Back in 1999, on a family road trip to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Boston</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> the see the Philadelphia Flyers play the Boston Bruins, we took a drive north of the city through </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Salem</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and Rockport, which shares the Cape Ann peninsula with the town of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gloucester</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre-wrap;font-family:monospace;" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Rockport-Fishing%20Shack_art?IMID=1b3006c1-52c1-43cc-a053-d10d14cd762f"><img style="WIDTH: 415px; HEIGHT: 276px" alt="Rockport Fishing Shack by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/19dd705f-fa3b-46df-b52e-5b42908a1542/uploadedartwork/450X450/1b3006c1-52c1-43cc-a053-d10d14cd762f.jpg" width="437" height="291" /> </a></span><a style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Rockport-Fishing%20Shack_art?IMID=1b3006c1-52c1-43cc-a053-d10d14cd762f"><br /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace, serif;"><span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre-wrap;font-size:x-small;" class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Historically, the area that is now Rockport was simply an uninhabited part of </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Gloucester</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> for more than 100 years, and was primarily used as a source of timber -- especially pine for shipbuilding.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV3HOBjAiwaZmEqwgziz32sif421GGgL7mzN2HD1zuv0Vt8KS5W851lMQYpnIrn38OPeLDW4Zu_yw2ED1ZfrwukOlV-UPx1iqtniM2CHCuyagSXWGVAb3YXJTrieACrm3akJEcA7-lX0n/s1600/IMG_3985L.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405550120727066882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV3HOBjAiwaZmEqwgziz32sif421GGgL7mzN2HD1zuv0Vt8KS5W851lMQYpnIrn38OPeLDW4Zu_yw2ED1ZfrwukOlV-UPx1iqtniM2CHCuyagSXWGVAb3YXJTrieACrm3akJEcA7-lX0n/s200/IMG_3985L.JPG" /></a> The area around Cape Ann was also one of the best fishing grounds in New England. In 1743 a dock was built at Rockport harbor on Sandy Bay and was used for both timber and fishing. By the beginning of the 19th century, the first granite quarries were developed, and by the 1830s, Rockport granite was being shipped to cities and towns throughout the East Coast of the </span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">United States</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Although the demand for granite decreased with the increasing use of</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">concrete</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">in construction during the</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Great Depression, Rockport still thrived as an artist colony -- which began years earlier due to its rocky, boulder-strewn ocean beaches, its quaint fishing shacks, a harbor filled with small, colorful fishing boats, and the fact that Cape Ann was made famous by</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Rudyard Kipling's</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Captains Courageous</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre-wrap;font-family:monospace;" class="Apple-style-span"><a style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Rockport-Motif%20Number%201_art?IMID=da8a3477-dfc2-4dea-a896-d316bd017bf8"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img style="WIDTH: 419px; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="Rockport Motif Number 1 by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/19dd705f-fa3b-46df-b52e-5b42908a1542/uploadedartwork/450X450/da8a3477-dfc2-4dea-a896-d316bd017bf8.jpg" width="428" height="287" /> </span></a><a style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Rockport-Motif%20Number%201_art?IMID=da8a3477-dfc2-4dea-a896-d316bd017bf8"><br /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">The most famous sight in Rockport, of course, is the red fishing shack sitting out on </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Bradley</span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Wharf</span></span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> in the middle of the harbor.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">The </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">fishing shack is well-known to students of</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">art</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">and</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">art history</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">as "the most often-painted building in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">America</span></span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">."</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Oddly enough, the shack actually has a name – Motif Number 1.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Built in the 1840s as Rockport became home to a colony of artists and fishermen, the shack became a favorite subject of painters due to the composition and lighting of its location as well as being a symbol of</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">New England</span></span></span></span></span></st1:place><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">maritime life. Painter Lester Hornby is believed to be the first to call the shack "Motif Number 1,"</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTpk68xMUdbqezhWssIlq97vhlN5pYXYH1ljFq3s8838UTAFcR_T8vlzovho3LO-UK3ZhY6gMUS1bjVpyhRjQBPjs4iTjsXMbLRPKJbVinzw44J3MWGXhbSbRUFIxE3qYnVMIEgz4Wysb/s1600/IMG_3968L.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 229px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405550855170610274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTpk68xMUdbqezhWssIlq97vhlN5pYXYH1ljFq3s8838UTAFcR_T8vlzovho3LO-UK3ZhY6gMUS1bjVpyhRjQBPjs4iTjsXMbLRPKJbVinzw44J3MWGXhbSbRUFIxE3qYnVMIEgz4Wysb/s200/IMG_3968L.JPG" /></a></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">a reference to its being the favorite subject of the town's painters, and the name achieved general acceptance.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">Battered and broken by the great winter storm of 1978, the original Motif Number 1 collapsed and was swept out of Rockport harbor. Within the year, a duplicate had been built and repainted to look as good as new.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cccccc;">The Bearskin Neck area along the harbor, with its narrow streets and many quaint restaurants, art galleries, and shops, is also a favorite tourist area.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre-wrap;font-family:monospace;font-size:12;" class="Apple-style-span"><a style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; COLOR: black; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Rockport-Motif%20Number%201%20(2)_art?IMID=6deaac74-d40d-4c65-b4ef-36b14edc967f"><img style="WIDTH: 415px; HEIGHT: 276px" alt="Rockport Motif Number 1 (2) by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/19dd705f-fa3b-46df-b52e-5b42908a1542/uploadedartwork/450X450/6deaac74-d40d-4c65-b4ef-36b14edc967f.jpg" width="428" height="283" /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></a></span></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace, serif;"><span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre-wrap" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehrXh1PIYkHFiOPjr2w8rI5yqGa8VeuuUkhwC5efc18StMNwO2LDIDWa5EAVnvpGhywKdHu_s8DIl-lLX9g_NBRBJb2JrJe_QRuiDzOULW3c87kzmJhlFEO8AMVhhkHc8un9wAssrEruf/s1600/IMG_3936L.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405545784820870962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehrXh1PIYkHFiOPjr2w8rI5yqGa8VeuuUkhwC5efc18StMNwO2LDIDWa5EAVnvpGhywKdHu_s8DIl-lLX9g_NBRBJb2JrJe_QRuiDzOULW3c87kzmJhlFEO8AMVhhkHc8un9wAssrEruf/s320/IMG_3936L.JPG" /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">NEXT POST: Plymouth, Massachusetts</span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:+0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you have a chance, please check out my </span></span><a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ImageKind Galleries</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Flickr Collections</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></o:p></span></p>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-52497073231632247662009-11-13T20:37:00.014-05:002009-11-18T15:23:35.388-05:00Portland Head Light Station<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6_oxCssGoSl9SlEQuOvIe2TOfr0TlrrlZybabsL_rV0vPvFqtrtTWWhtoy6RBVQ1pEUAHSCHiCFTgJ9iEPWJsdiCKO3tXHGI60VY5DvJnfyppVqYfmaKeGU26YWHd1R9jN-PMhzG2Vx7/s1600-h/IMG_4155L.JPG"></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The highlight of a trip to </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for any photographer has to be the Portland Head Light Station on </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Elizabeth</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, because the lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the country.</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1icVC2gdldRp1nRsI3NYYgKNuzvK-D3DDZIM9FP7BT3dOcGJFaa_KcOfdiQQSjZztGdKM8A3brIcQJiXKdGQ1sZyoDDQoukSJ2BWJ_pXg4GX8rAFmVzoCM4pXbNKx4GHiS8qxdLQsM3Z/s200/IMG_4055L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403769693950528498" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span></span>I had seen some of the spectacular shots of the lighthouse before we left on the trip, so I wanted to get over there as many times as possible to take pictures under varying lighting conditions.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This wasn’t much of a problem since our hotel was only 20 minutes from Cape Elizabeth, and the weather during the two days ranged from cloudy and rainy on Saturday morning to bright and sunny (and windy) on Sunday afternoon. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Moon-over%20Portland%20Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=ab2e9b8c-a249-4234-aeb8-6ff79b9a7de9"><img alt="Moon over Portland Head Lighthouse by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/6872f40e-62e9-47e2-a3d9-66697960f7f2/uploadedartwork/450X450/ab2e9b8c-a249-4234-aeb8-6ff79b9a7de9.jpg" /><br /></a></span><b><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/Moon-over%20Portland%20Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=ab2e9b8c-a249-4234-aeb8-6ff79b9a7de9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Moon over Portland Head Lighthouse </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">(Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">According to a number of sources, the lighthouse has an historic past.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">George Washington engaged two masons from the town of </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in 1787, while </span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was still part of the colony of </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Massachusetts</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and instructed them to take charge of the construction of a lighthouse on Portland Head. They were Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols. </span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6_oxCssGoSl9SlEQuOvIe2TOfr0TlrrlZybabsL_rV0vPvFqtrtTWWhtoy6RBVQ1pEUAHSCHiCFTgJ9iEPWJsdiCKO3tXHGI60VY5DvJnfyppVqYfmaKeGU26YWHd1R9jN-PMhzG2Vx7/s200/IMG_4155L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403771137502837330" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The tower was completed during the year 1790 and first lighted January 10, 1791.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The old tower, built of rubblestone, still stands as one of the four colonial lighthouses that have never been rebuilt.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water, its white conical tower being connected with a dwelling.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a native of </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, often visited the Portland Head Lighthouse and was friends with the keepers. It is believed he received inspiration at the lighthouse for his 1849 poem, The Lighthouse.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Clouds-over%20Portland%20Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=902c657e-405f-43d3-96f7-87eceedf47ea"><img alt="Clouds over Portland Head Lighthouse by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/6872f40e-62e9-47e2-a3d9-66697960f7f2/uploadedartwork/450X450/902c657e-405f-43d3-96f7-87eceedf47ea.jpg" /><br /></a></span><b><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/Clouds-over%20Portland%20Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=902c657e-405f-43d3-96f7-87eceedf47ea"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Clouds over Portland Head Lighthouse </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">(Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland Head Lighthouse sits majestically on the rocky </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> coast adjacent to Fort Williams Park.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The park is a popular destination for picnicking, barbecuing, hiking, all types of sports, and spectacular views of the ocean.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kids love exploring the remains of the old abandoned fort and battery on the grounds. It’s a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I understand it’s also a great place in the winter for cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The lighthouse itself is not open to the public, but there’s a small museum and gift shop attached.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The beauty of photographing this lighthouse is that you can shoot from so many different angles and elevations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Portland-Head%20Lighthouse%20in%20the%20Fall_art?IMID=511f18da-8614-409d-bce1-b69b0f53078b"><img alt="Portland Head Lighthouse in the Fall by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/6872f40e-62e9-47e2-a3d9-66697960f7f2/uploadedartwork/450X450/511f18da-8614-409d-bce1-b69b0f53078b.jpg" /><br /></a></span><b><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/Portland-Head%20Lighthouse%20in%20the%20Fall_art?IMID=511f18da-8614-409d-bce1-b69b0f53078b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Portland Head Lighthouse in the Fall </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">(Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/Portland-Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=13c7a96d-97cf-426e-85d3-70bdf4b63621"><img alt="Portland Head Lighthouse by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/6872f40e-62e9-47e2-a3d9-66697960f7f2/uploadedartwork/450X450/13c7a96d-97cf-426e-85d3-70bdf4b63621.jpg" /><br /></a></span><b><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/Portland-Head%20Lighthouse_art?IMID=13c7a96d-97cf-426e-85d3-70bdf4b63621"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Portland Head Lighthouse </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">(Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On our drive from Plymouth, </span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Massachusetts</span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> up to Portland, </span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, we took a side trip to the scenic fishing </span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">village</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of </span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rockport</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Massachusetts</span></st1:place></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which will be the subject of my next post.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-5026960438742120562009-11-10T10:57:00.023-05:002009-11-18T15:22:19.930-05:00Portland, Maine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nosLdL2CdMU_VtD3Y3zX2p6gSotAt_cvmhzgHop32E1ruaM3pgFLDgXQWctKEFGw1Wqe9gVP0tTfSyQfDKRdogMvN8XxrvYYn3aRab8Xg2b1GG_3H4rkMaqsc9DQab40fCnTe8vo6YMx/s1600-h/IMG_4115L.JPG"></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We took a trip up to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">New England</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> last week. Although the weather wasn’t that great, I’ll use my next few blog posts to show some of the photos of that trip.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We spent three nights of the trip at the Marriott at Sable Oaks in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">South Portland</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The last time I visited </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland I</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was a teenager in the summer of 1964. I took the bus from </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Philadelphia</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to visit friends of the family. The main memory of that trip for me was taking the ferry out to the islands in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Casco Bay</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and exploring old abandoned military fortifications.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegbsElx9Jgjmxruz8TxQyDS7mjCVuqwhWGPl3Nwd3sCN1z86UfvCo2fgmmnDVYK-DmXD7LA9FuhyphenhyphenGMbIJ6OJucvuEHhPJUSArWH8vWufJG5XSb0BctxPJ1nUjoiJ3Z5AhQF0kev4YH7lM/s1600-h/IMG_4114L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegbsElx9Jgjmxruz8TxQyDS7mjCVuqwhWGPl3Nwd3sCN1z86UfvCo2fgmmnDVYK-DmXD7LA9FuhyphenhyphenGMbIJ6OJucvuEHhPJUSArWH8vWufJG5XSb0BctxPJ1nUjoiJ3Z5AhQF0kev4YH7lM/s320/IMG_4114L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402509815193707058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This time we didn’t do any exploring through abandoned forts, but we did do some exploring around the streets of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The main part of town is divided into three districts: the </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Port</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">; the Arts District; and the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">East End</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. We spent a little time in the Arts District with its many galleries, but we spent most of our time walking around the </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Port</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> area which extends up the hill from the busy </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">port</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nosLdL2CdMU_VtD3Y3zX2p6gSotAt_cvmhzgHop32E1ruaM3pgFLDgXQWctKEFGw1Wqe9gVP0tTfSyQfDKRdogMvN8XxrvYYn3aRab8Xg2b1GG_3H4rkMaqsc9DQab40fCnTe8vo6YMx/s200/IMG_4115L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402539920802671954" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Th<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">e </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Port</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes, and has something of a 19</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> century European feel to it thanks to its many narrow cobblestone streets and old brick buildings. Commercial Street runs along the harbor at the foot of Old Port which has docks for the Casco Bay ferry to the islands and The Cat high speed ferry to Nova Scotia, as well as countless yachts and fishing boats.</span></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9QVhyphenhyphen6envi7kJlP5IT4PCYxJWTC99QE2c3XQ5F762P4ixGa04PUoyqGSAuONb8cCBYQ7OTj2RTpPkzoYs0yPd7MKBXYOaw5mfUMeCwndE03-uKcy3lr33Obem6OrcuzVwwNOp1m6fbrR/s1600-h/IMG_4123L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9QVhyphenhyphen6envi7kJlP5IT4PCYxJWTC99QE2c3XQ5F762P4ixGa04PUoyqGSAuONb8cCBYQ7OTj2RTpPkzoYs0yPd7MKBXYOaw5mfUMeCwndE03-uKcy3lr33Obem6OrcuzVwwNOp1m6fbrR/s320/IMG_4123L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402508748204866898" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirASxr1yVK_ZbGRAWEhMCegrDtZYvcpUVLh5YG8P6CgK0auIoX_pmBLLHIF-Shq4dAAoMBiIM6UCsrqozY3qGLV84HnxqSeacP20kGRYvjj3teMkDOz-LuOkEAlhyphenhyphen2wbTj9kKLDT5Zp1CW/s1600-h/IMG_4131L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirASxr1yVK_ZbGRAWEhMCegrDtZYvcpUVLh5YG8P6CgK0auIoX_pmBLLHIF-Shq4dAAoMBiIM6UCsrqozY3qGLV84HnxqSeacP20kGRYvjj3teMkDOz-LuOkEAlhyphenhyphen2wbTj9kKLDT5Zp1CW/s320/IMG_4131L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402508917376855474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvnBGQCRxTMJzL8sJ2XguYJbIC14aEOie5aWs2lFplYskD7tyBQxGJWagvrbDV27vJauIIPYsRjDUDW_iTvDR1WegHLoh8TH2bDHqewVg2fIRNoddG3H5JpxguiTgSfXBDSxYxONYxN5r/s1600-h/IMG_4008L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvnBGQCRxTMJzL8sJ2XguYJbIC14aEOie5aWs2lFplYskD7tyBQxGJWagvrbDV27vJauIIPYsRjDUDW_iTvDR1WegHLoh8TH2bDHqewVg2fIRNoddG3H5JpxguiTgSfXBDSxYxONYxN5r/s200/IMG_4008L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402505377470919746" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A stay in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the LL Bean flagship store located in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Freeport</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maine</span></span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, a short 15 minute drive north of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Besides the LL Bean Flagship Retail Store, which is huge, there is also an LL Bean Hunting & Fishing Store, an LL Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store, an LL Bean Home Store, and an LL Bean Outlet Store, all within two blocks. The town of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Freeport</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> obviously exists because of LL Bean, but there are also many other shops and restaurants to explore along </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Main Street</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, plus a small outlet mall. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant just off </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Main Street</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> called the Corsican Restaurant. I had a bowl of clam chowder that was the best I’ve ever tasted.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4JqnrrSLjJ2rllTKRk9nq9_ZyLIRbhWDlG6mXCERN7ygt1lWeNQ0UkTi-Ga5evAED5HGirYvwW90qQvuBNvCLwNjq8I-m1TIHOcxHZ6vDNmGOTtNIc4cZaCEkzomfRm3q3YbLndDJ5cr/s1600-h/IMG_4011L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4JqnrrSLjJ2rllTKRk9nq9_ZyLIRbhWDlG6mXCERN7ygt1lWeNQ0UkTi-Ga5evAED5HGirYvwW90qQvuBNvCLwNjq8I-m1TIHOcxHZ6vDNmGOTtNIc4cZaCEkzomfRm3q3YbLndDJ5cr/s320/IMG_4011L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402505733508824162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /> </a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4JqnrrSLjJ2rllTKRk9nq9_ZyLIRbhWDlG6mXCERN7ygt1lWeNQ0UkTi-Ga5evAED5HGirYvwW90qQvuBNvCLwNjq8I-m1TIHOcxHZ6vDNmGOTtNIc4cZaCEkzomfRm3q3YbLndDJ5cr/s1600-h/IMG_4011L.JPG"></a></span>The highlight of a trip to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Portland</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for any photographer has to be the Portland Head Light Station on </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cape</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Elizabeth</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, south of the city. The lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the country and will be the subject of my next post.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a>.</span></span></p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-36540923135870095372009-10-21T16:54:00.023-04:002009-10-22T18:15:17.028-04:00Monterey, California – Part II<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7fK7B1L0H8bi3s2NjAhpht_n8SY2HUm3ry9bIX3kWlzeWl2pfDVR8XQg439L5qDqROTYhGUt9q1Ytg5FqIbpjxSCoTACbZ2YIXv5K0Q3awCwAUAwbCKzkVWRZ1DoyNqSd533N3-PjQhk/s1600-h/IMG_0961L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7fK7B1L0H8bi3s2NjAhpht_n8SY2HUm3ry9bIX3kWlzeWl2pfDVR8XQg439L5qDqROTYhGUt9q1Ytg5FqIbpjxSCoTACbZ2YIXv5K0Q3awCwAUAwbCKzkVWRZ1DoyNqSd533N3-PjQhk/s200/IMG_0961L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395162672737715234" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Continuing on our tour of the </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Peninsula</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> area, we spen<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t some time in the famous town of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/">Carmel-by-the-Sea</a></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, situated at the south end of the </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">17-Mile Drive</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. As with the entire region, </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Carmel</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is noted for its scenic beauty, as well as being the<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> home of many famous writers, poets, artists, and movie celebrities. </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Carmel</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is a wonderful town to walk, with many high-end shops, restaurants, and art galleries. While in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Carmel</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, we paid a visit to the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, also known as the <a href="http://www.carmelmission.org/">Carmel Mission</a>. The mission was first established in 1770 and was destroyed by fire in the mid-1800’s. The current buildings were restored starting in 1884. Carmel Mission is considered one of the most beautiful missions in the chain of nine missions that stretches along </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">California</span></span></st1:state><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">’s </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Central</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Coast</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xOhcpUF4b4xZA6IxYYPtUKmXmFnQUrKI1SoQmLjZcKXbb_YLQAawrwx13U9gZFrNl72h3EE3eOr5QhbNqgAJE16KOQxnLcMUd-KmnmZBkMmZhmTaieYl9ahNC36jhbEEJtawTLRX6Ck3/s320/IMG_0955L.JPG" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjp_T9OPqBMWN4LHwIyfETEuhFgYVhxf2eYksQa7vBue8R4IWE8VLBE2aU99W7g8LVSxMh6wejjZHj8jhBPYT8gXvzpHK9nS6qY7DOgEci8J5ydP6bZ-MdB_P45kx0ipcJVukfhD11XSW/s1600-h/IMG_0977L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjp_T9OPqBMWN4LHwIyfETEuhFgYVhxf2eYksQa7vBue8R4IWE8VLBE2aU99W7g8LVSxMh6wejjZHj8jhBPYT8gXvzpHK9nS6qY7DOgEci8J5ydP6bZ-MdB_P45kx0ipcJVukfhD11XSW/s200/IMG_0977L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395162994183775410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I’ve been to the </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> area a number of times in the past, but never took the opportunity to drive south along the scenic coastline of <a href="http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/">Big </a></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/">Sur</a>. On this trip, we decided not to miss out on the chance to see the stunning views. </span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8H3Jy7U35UpW_850-zugu3a88t4cPdQsJY3YZ2-6vHOiJKfR1qz6LojBqaXJ4Qjdkrz9XxMuHpXqzoU5pDDkeUwUXpzicvBZ31wOrMw_hGu9_lDhKXrZHW_KfI0w7YLULyuxQN8KAoCz/s1600-h/IMG_0981L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8H3Jy7U35UpW_850-zugu3a88t4cPdQsJY3YZ2-6vHOiJKfR1qz6LojBqaXJ4Qjdkrz9XxMuHpXqzoU5pDDkeUwUXpzicvBZ31wOrMw_hGu9_lDhKXrZHW_KfI0w7YLULyuxQN8KAoCz/s200/IMG_0981L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395163330132035954" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We didn’t make the entire drive from Carmel to the south end of Big Sur, but went as far south on California Highway 1 as the Nepenthe Restaurant. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The highway winds along the western edge of the Santa Lucia mountain range mostly within sight of the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pacific Ocean</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, varying from near sea level up to a thousand-foot sheer drop to the water, providing some of the most spectacular views in the world. <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On the way back we also decided to take a side trip into </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570">Pfeiffer</a></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570"> </a></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570">Big Sur</a></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570"> </a></span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=570">State Park</a></span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to look around the Big Sur Lodge and take a hike out to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pfeiffer</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Falls</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;font-size:12px;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=b573c4e6-8eb5-4118-8c51-cccaafabfef3"><img alt="Big Sur Beach by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d4834ce4-df66-40ff-8c1a-7bac1dfe45b5/uploadedartwork/450X450/b573c4e6-8eb5-4118-8c51-cccaafabfef3.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Big Sur Beach (Click on photo for info)</span></b></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK9qPgFNFzUafMym_UiLJubgN3F-yDJXfw1Ve7IBpoSMhAlmt_eTPPrz87h1ACGgW33amdUQw5OWWf-NDCDX_xxeTlUZO3JHnD0xAnAIClOGLsq81dzYh6kLZycKWgqXxC9gnP7fITWxw/s1600-h/IMG_1023L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK9qPgFNFzUafMym_UiLJubgN3F-yDJXfw1Ve7IBpoSMhAlmt_eTPPrz87h1ACGgW33amdUQw5OWWf-NDCDX_xxeTlUZO3JHnD0xAnAIClOGLsq81dzYh6kLZycKWgqXxC9gnP7fITWxw/s200/IMG_1023L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395164216071810018" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Though technically not in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, I wanted to include one of the most picturesque and photographed lighthouses on the Pacific coast. Located on the scenic coastal highway (California Route 1), midway between </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Santa Cruz</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Half</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Moon</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533">Pigeon Point Lighthouse</a> is the tallest lighthouse on the west coast of the </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">US</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. We stopped to take pictures on our way to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">San Francisco</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> from </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Unfortunately, </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">the tower has been closed to tours since 2001 because of collapse of brickwork supporting outside access walkways on the top of the structure, but the restored lighthouse keepers housing serves as a</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">hostel</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">for travelers. </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">The four three-bedroom houses next to the lighthouse have overnight lodging for up to 50 people of all ages.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;font-size:12px;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=31897b90-e514-4102-a33a-9d713ea98495"><img alt="Pigeon Point Lighthouse by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d4834ce4-df66-40ff-8c1a-7bac1dfe45b5/uploadedartwork/450X450/31897b90-e514-4102-a33a-9d713ea98495.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Pigeon Point Lighthouse (Click on photo for info)</span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you have a chance, please check out my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/">ImageKind Galleries</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a></span></span></span></p>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-78872681118778277572009-10-13T16:54:00.041-04:002009-10-14T15:06:07.528-04:00Monterey, California – Part I<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One of my favorite places in the country to visit is the </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">San Francisco</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> / </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> area of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Northern California</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. I was fortunate enough to travel to the area many times on business over the years and a couple of times on vacation. Taking a look back... Our latest vacation trip to the area was in May of 2007 – we had a wonderful time.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpHFUbqUE-7NazP79BjmIN1apCjJn2iPPZBKXvhYvAkmLfFcLQhawyhHLl1t6VdSDSLoxXZXyYxV-NKUoF2JiOoJiLXLaTWfv3zuZktG0-EpE_Pue-xIaJ3Ehrk1iJBB1LxvS1H80q4v-/s1600-h/IMG_0915L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpHFUbqUE-7NazP79BjmIN1apCjJn2iPPZBKXvhYvAkmLfFcLQhawyhHLl1t6VdSDSLoxXZXyYxV-NKUoF2JiOoJiLXLaTWfv3zuZktG0-EpE_Pue-xIaJ3Ehrk1iJBB1LxvS1H80q4v-/s200/IMG_0915L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392228553242544290" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> We started our vacation in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and spent three days taking in the sights of one of the most scenic areas in the world. The city of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is not very large - about 11 square miles sitting on </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The focal point of the town (at least for tourists) is Cannery Row, with the famous <a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium</a> sitting at the end. Cannery Row is a street along the bay, made famous by John Steinbeck, lined with long abandoned sardine canning factories, which have been turned into numerous shops and restaurants.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9u0CgusXLYEtpilu-bMNhripyuzPpwZuOIKAMn5bhXn_TF6SsbHuI4cRRAg-3VT2-cRRmK885Ub6LYZ1a5DwuOx1cOzwg7ACFaRcRHJK7G1YNAxMbY4VinlZ9vIHpmXXGhhQtoJi9CCB4/s1600-h/IMG_0780L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9u0CgusXLYEtpilu-bMNhripyuzPpwZuOIKAMn5bhXn_TF6SsbHuI4cRRAg-3VT2-cRRmK885Ub6LYZ1a5DwuOx1cOzwg7ACFaRcRHJK7G1YNAxMbY4VinlZ9vIHpmXXGhhQtoJi9CCB4/s200/IMG_0780L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392228106427371218" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></a></span>As beautiful as the scenery around the area is, the highlight to any visit to </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> has to be the <a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6666CC;">Monterey Bay Aquarium</span></a>, one of the premiere aquariums in the world. From the huge kelp tanks to the penguins to the sea otters to the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> habitats, you can spend days in the aquarium and not see everything. It was fascinating just standing in front of the huge kelp forest tank watching the many species of sea life swim by. I could have sworn that I saw Mr. Spock swimming along with them. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpXLO7nM5N-yvnQsn83VfAEm5GB5ezhSfd4M2_OnbNhkBxalJDEfkGBrYNTAMy-RRh-Ch4QhO5UhtTaeSHnL6HjMMaTLJMLKrDCZyTbboaXLI_jnxLn918-SDciT-ra7mYAnVKnKA_zqS/s1600-h/IMG_0876L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpXLO7nM5N-yvnQsn83VfAEm5GB5ezhSfd4M2_OnbNhkBxalJDEfkGBrYNTAMy-RRh-Ch4QhO5UhtTaeSHnL6HjMMaTLJMLKrDCZyTbboaXLI_jnxLn918-SDciT-ra7mYAnVKnKA_zqS/s200/IMG_0876L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392198246734516994" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">But the highlight for me was the “Jellies: Living Art” exhibit. I didn’t realize that there were so many varieties of jellyfish – from microscopic to huge. The fluorescent-lit exhibits of jellies lazily floating around with the current were just beautiful. I understand that there is currently a seahorse exhibit that is equally as amazing.</span></span></span></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpXLO7nM5N-yvnQsn83VfAEm5GB5ezhSfd4M2_OnbNhkBxalJDEfkGBrYNTAMy-RRh-Ch4QhO5UhtTaeSHnL6HjMMaTLJMLKrDCZyTbboaXLI_jnxLn918-SDciT-ra7mYAnVKnKA_zqS/s1600-h/IMG_0876L.JPG"><br /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;font-size:12px;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=158dc24e-d28e-4f97-93b6-2ebd02b48f51"><img alt="Jellyfish, Monterey Bay Aquarium by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d4834ce4-df66-40ff-8c1a-7bac1dfe45b5/uploadedartwork/450X450/158dc24e-d28e-4f97-93b6-2ebd02b48f51.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Jellyfish, Monterey Bay Aquarium (Click for more info)</span></span></b></a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yW8ns2r87SaRkyzBayzHOO6IwhXyXF0QWY9FQwaGNeOTrLvJpEKGtwFlmSmbFpPaLIrL8eI0imNi46tL0x5HDJZVeZOVDlMKN4VmHDAWgnntk5VJ9ye2uiWNnQSV2zC7BJbsbk_-VmJj/s1600-h/IMG_0936L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yW8ns2r87SaRkyzBayzHOO6IwhXyXF0QWY9FQwaGNeOTrLvJpEKGtwFlmSmbFpPaLIrL8eI0imNi46tL0x5HDJZVeZOVDlMKN4VmHDAWgnntk5VJ9ye2uiWNnQSV2zC7BJbsbk_-VmJj/s200/IMG_0936L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392199997216519538" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A visit to the </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> peninsula wouldn’t be complete without a leisurely drive around the famous </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_17_Mile_Home">17-Mile Drive</a></span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The area features some of the most expensive mansions and most beautiful and famous golf courses nestled among some of the most stunning seascapes in the world. I know a lot of people say that </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">17-Mile Drive</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is nothing special – I assume that those people are not golfers. To me it is a golfer’s and a photographer’s dream. As my kids said to me the last time they were there with us, “Can’t we drive more than 50 feet without you jumping out to take pictures?” The rocky coastline with the crashing waves, along with bird rock and seal rock make for beautiful photos. </span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXxHdMh4ZD9UrK_fAyne3ISxdiC_eq6AHAZN8ggShekJ4MyGxbwTohstegV83hOGF7zpAahKjv876E60VUFX-ne8dn1nqh6QmSUP7AqM7c8mT1H89kGtzN5EibFWntgFunBAOW7g7RNeA/s1600-h/IMG_0948L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXxHdMh4ZD9UrK_fAyne3ISxdiC_eq6AHAZN8ggShekJ4MyGxbwTohstegV83hOGF7zpAahKjv876E60VUFX-ne8dn1nqh6QmSUP7AqM7c8mT1H89kGtzN5EibFWntgFunBAOW7g7RNeA/s200/IMG_0948L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392200207485913778" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As someone who played a lot of golf in the past, including a round at <a href="http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_golf">Pebble Beach Golf Links</a>, just being able to walk around the Lodge and pro shop and see the 18</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> hole makes it worth the drive. </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pebble</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Beach</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is just the most famous of the many world-class golf courses on the peninsula, including Cypress Point, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills, and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Spanish</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Probably the most famous and most photographed sight along the drive is the Lone Cypress, symbol of the Pebble Beach Company, and object of much controversy regarding trademark and intellectual property infringement. The first time I came to the area was in 1969. Then you could walk out on the rocks to just a few feet from the tree, however, today you have to stay back at the road. The pictures of the Lone Cypress are still very stunning with </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in the background.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;font-size:12px;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=d6a30efe-9e0e-4744-85a2-7bbe3c58bf59"><img alt="Lone Cypress by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d4834ce4-df66-40ff-8c1a-7bac1dfe45b5/uploadedartwork/450X450/d6a30efe-9e0e-4744-85a2-7bbe3c58bf59.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Lone Cypress (Click for more info)</span></b></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On the coast, just off the </span></span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">17-Mile Drive</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, lies the town of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pacific Grove</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, noted for its Victorian houses, the Point Pinos Lighthouse, and the annual migration of Monarch butterflies to the area. It’s also noted for the pink flowers that flourish along the coastline.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace;font-size:12px;"><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=20c86434-1e6f-4526-a298-ba9b4ee4e72a"><img alt="Pacific Grove by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d4834ce4-df66-40ff-8c1a-7bac1dfe45b5/uploadedartwork/450X450/20c86434-1e6f-4526-a298-ba9b4ee4e72a.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#C0C0C0;">Pacific Grove (Click for more info)</span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ2fpSR5_I4XuJE7jj__Zg-QgiI-XHCa_UWvnhPc-MMIaVkNZPHR3kc3DKH2zKWFfPmUo56IWFNH9I7PU6fhCmWJb__Xyv8bGy4pbD6thpzC5A3V0dGw1VkePuHtz0bFZIkVYLuD-vr0N/s1600-h/IMG_0922L.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ2fpSR5_I4XuJE7jj__Zg-QgiI-XHCa_UWvnhPc-MMIaVkNZPHR3kc3DKH2zKWFfPmUo56IWFNH9I7PU6fhCmWJb__Xyv8bGy4pbD6thpzC5A3V0dGw1VkePuHtz0bFZIkVYLuD-vr0N/s200/IMG_0922L.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392200607321459506" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">During our time in </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> we had a very enjoyable stay at the <a href="http://www.montereybayinn.com/">Monterey Bay Inn</a>, a small boutique hotel located on </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The hotel has very reasonable rates, free parking, and was very convenient – a scenic and easy 10-minute walk to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We had a spacious room on the fourth floor with spectacular views looking directly out over the bay. I really enjoyed sitting on the balcony watching the otters and sea lions with the binoculars supplied in every room. Another nice feature was the complimentary breakfast every morning served right to your room.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/">ImageKind Galleries</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">NEXT POST: </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">California</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> – Part II</span></span></p></div></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-87587978120799356062009-10-07T11:24:00.025-04:002009-12-05T08:31:11.787-05:00Another Step Back in Time<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Observing Amish life around </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lancaster County</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pennsylvania</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">, certainly takes you back to a time when everything was much simpler. You can experience another step back in time by visiting the very popular </span></span><a href="http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strasburg Railroad</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strasburg</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">PA.</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The railroad has been in operation since the mid-1800’s, currently running a number of authentic, turn-of-the-century steam locomotives and passenger cars and is a </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mecca</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> for railroad enthusiasts and photographers.</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=d700adbc-8f00-4e72-86c2-4c7459158b47" style="color: black; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Old 475 by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/f5321dc4-db5b-4f86-9e43-1f3357e44adb/uploadedartwork/450X450/d700adbc-8f00-4e72-86c2-4c7459158b47.jpg" /><br />
</a><b style="font-size: 10px;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=d700adbc-8f00-4e72-86c2-4c7459158b47" style="text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old 475 (Click on photo for info)</span></span></a></b></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A ride on the Strasburg Railroad through the scenic farmlands of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lancaster</span></span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">County</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is enjoyed by young and old alike. It’s a leisurely, 45-minute narrated roundtrip between the towns of Strasburg and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paradise</span></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">. The train makes one stop along the way at Groff’s Picnic Grove where you can hop off for a picnic and return to the station on a later train, if you like. You have the option of riding in a coach car, dining in a dining car, or living in luxury in the President’s Car or First-Class Parlor Car. There are also many special events during the year like Wine and Cheese Trains, Victorian Teas, Veteran’s Day military specials, Easter Bunny Trains, and the always popular Santa’s Paradise Express.</span></span><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1wHA5j4XKWXjXl7sWotFxc9g-kqZviT7WesUesCMBV0c8OqC3NT6LlhP7R2A1FVDlr4DyaU3UaosftHCFX3ukyFuUxCGRSMwhWWkeMTwazVA3p_BzY5kL-bwLZEEpmxa0tNU5uPQgqW8/s1600-h/IMG_2660_C1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=25428e35-b108-43d7-ad80-fa9967795df8" style="color: black; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="The Trip by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/f5321dc4-db5b-4f86-9e43-1f3357e44adb/uploadedartwork/450X450/25428e35-b108-43d7-ad80-fa9967795df8.jpg" /><br />
<b style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Trip (Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></a></span></span></span><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPcIcWFMLJwJsAHABqCxB5IuHEnrfU5QSHuOMV1s2KPoBDRc52HcE8C45kslOZM3QKT3mPLtGBbU7WGFT8FBSPCtme8OCPKigF6KjNdYX4uRC4SULKpOpylGYVJDNG3yEh0xoGh9GavNY/s1600-h/IMG_3770L.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389889250662549490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPcIcWFMLJwJsAHABqCxB5IuHEnrfU5QSHuOMV1s2KPoBDRc52HcE8C45kslOZM3QKT3mPLtGBbU7WGFT8FBSPCtme8OCPKigF6KjNdYX4uRC4SULKpOpylGYVJDNG3yEh0xoGh9GavNY/s200/IMG_3770L.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 160px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> On a Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago I went over to the railroad to take a few pictures – it turned out to be one of the </span></span><a href="http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/day-out-with-thomas.php"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Day out with Thomas”</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> days. Thomas the Tank Engine was there, along with hundreds and hundreds of his closest friends. It was a madhouse, but I was fortunate enough to get a good parking space. Because of the crowds, there weren’t too many good photo opportunities, but I did manage to get a few shots of the train coming into the station. I’m not that familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine since he became popular in this country after our kids were older, but watching the kids and their parents turned out to be very interesting. I’ve never seen so many small children so excited – they were riding on a train pulled by their hero, Thomas. It was pure joy. If you have children who like Thomas, I would highly recommend catching one of his visits to Strasburg. His next scheduled visit is </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/day-out-with-thomas.php">Dec. 4 – 6, 2009.</a></span></span><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2A4CMmbCbNOtEVdsjxy3ctDOtt7p6Lsk2HQgLRxTCIWXHEd4Xhqci7KJrBV8XvA8VVu35zwCEGnK00RYOZjhyphenhyphenwIosittarLGcSawfPHDrIWVkDM25ubdisxBxpGNWvu2oT3v-MCK8cIJ/s1600-h/IMG_2623L.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389887229343582706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2A4CMmbCbNOtEVdsjxy3ctDOtt7p6Lsk2HQgLRxTCIWXHEd4Xhqci7KJrBV8XvA8VVu35zwCEGnK00RYOZjhyphenhyphenwIosittarLGcSawfPHDrIWVkDM25ubdisxBxpGNWvu2oT3v-MCK8cIJ/s200/IMG_2623L.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 134px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of railroad enthusiasts, if you’re really into railroading, you also can’t miss the</span></span><a href="http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">, right across the road from the Strasburg Railroad. The museum displays over 100 locomotives and cars from the mid-19th and 20th centuries, including the priceless Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Collection.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=acc5e7f6-635b-4c80-bd17-f5096f91ae29" style="color: black; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="The Arrival by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/f5321dc4-db5b-4f86-9e43-1f3357e44adb/uploadedartwork/450X450/acc5e7f6-635b-4c80-bd17-f5096f91ae29.jpg" /><br />
<b size="10px"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Arrival (Click on photo for info)</span></span></b></a></span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: monospace, serif; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: monospace;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=f8d24322-d553-4086-a441-8b0869fcfaf3" style="color: black; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Through the Fields by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/f5321dc4-db5b-4f86-9e43-1f3357e44adb/uploadedartwork/450X450/f8d24322-d553-4086-a441-8b0869fcfaf3.jpg" /><br />
<b style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Through the Fields (Click on photo for info)</span></b></a></span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you have a chance, please check out my </span></span><a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">ImageKind Store</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flickr Collections</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">NEXT POST: </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monterey</span></span></st1:city><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><st1:state st="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">California</span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-73914171690343283792009-10-02T13:17:00.034-04:002009-10-03T11:01:33.444-04:00Living in Amish Country<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After living most of my life in and around the city of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Philadelphia</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, PA, we moved out to the Amish farmlands of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chester</span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lancaster</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> counties in May, 2008.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a change from the hustle and bustle of the big city and suburbs.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The slower pace and beautiful scenery of the country is a welcome change.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From the wonderful farms to the interesting scenes of Amish life, the opportunities for photographs are endless… although I have to admit I haven’t been taking full advantage of it.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3746695385_7ba78c6a09_m.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#000000;"><br /></span></a> <a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=12c3fd0d-dfa1-48d2-ace8-26779044bc64"><img alt="Fall in Amish Country by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a99e3758-714b-47ab-a2a3-a7e1bfb3f498/uploadedartwork/450X450/12c3fd0d-dfa1-48d2-ace8-26779044bc64.jpg" /><br /></a><b size="10px"><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=12c3fd0d-dfa1-48d2-ace8-26779044bc64"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Fall in Amish Country (Click photo for info)</span></span></span></a></b></div><div><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=12c3fd0d-dfa1-48d2-ace8-26779044bc64"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE9Ss6JngFEgdWreB4Kz5B75t1sZpv_SokNawDkIzrWuzjylem8hDbt59ZPsqYF_7UyfAPaTBplW4-tlL-0lMRjPqM1l6_mJvn9NH6qN3wdUH4VyuGN35iVM-PN7KTxaYzMbIF67Xuhk6/s1600-h/IMG_2572_C1.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE9Ss6JngFEgdWreB4Kz5B75t1sZpv_SokNawDkIzrWuzjylem8hDbt59ZPsqYF_7UyfAPaTBplW4-tlL-0lMRjPqM1l6_mJvn9NH6qN3wdUH4VyuGN35iVM-PN7KTxaYzMbIF67Xuhk6/s200/IMG_2572_C1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388060429633662546" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The thing that has impressed me the most about the Amish people over the last year is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">how hard they work.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not just the men, but the women and the children of all ages.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s not unusual to be driving along a country road and see a young woman or a 12-year old boy working th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e fields behind a team of six plow-horses.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE9Ss6JngFEgdWreB4Kz5B75t1sZpv_SokNawDkIzrWuzjylem8hDbt59ZPsqYF_7UyfAPaTBplW4-tlL-0lMRjPqM1l6_mJvn9NH6qN3wdUH4VyuGN35iVM-PN7KTxaYzMbIF67Xuhk6/s1600-h/IMG_2572_C1.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE9Ss6JngFEgdWreB4Kz5B75t1sZpv_SokNawDkIzrWuzjylem8hDbt59ZPsqYF_7UyfAPaTBplW4-tlL-0lMRjPqM1l6_mJvn9NH6qN3wdUH4VyuGN35iVM-PN7KTxaYzMbIF67Xuhk6/s1600-h/IMG_2572_C1.JPG"></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I always try to keep my eyes open for good photo-opportunities, but I have to admit that I’ve missed a number of good shots for one or more of the following reasons:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I didn’t have my camera with me at the time (I know – a cardinal sin for a photographer).</span></span></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aMsLSX8AkhYFe1Qt8FxqiHblxKEjJbUDu8cyG6y2OQZy9do4v_t3IZeL3pP1JKaxuQvAnFu750q68Fk-Hm4ckAEf8mYIJIxv7qcNnrUrjwtAppnRCUvrEppxoLHjLRm_LP7R8-8PFXOs/s1600-h/IMG_2495.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aMsLSX8AkhYFe1Qt8FxqiHblxKEjJbUDu8cyG6y2OQZy9do4v_t3IZeL3pP1JKaxuQvAnFu750q68Fk-Hm4ckAEf8mYIJIxv7qcNnrUrjwtAppnRCUvrEppxoLHjLRm_LP7R8-8PFXOs/s200/IMG_2495.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388059587673777730" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I couldn’t stop the car because the location or traffic made it impossible.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Driving in Amish country is generally easy and peaceful, but at certain times you get a strange mix of traffic on some of the roads.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You start with the slow-moving horse-and-buggies and farm equipment, add in a bunch of big-rigs flying up and down the country roads to avoid the turnpike tolls, and mix in hordes of impatient tourists on sunny weekends… I’ve seen many dangerous situations unfold.</span></span></span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I didn’t want to violate the beliefs of the Amish regarding having their picture taken.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The reason generally given for their aversion to pictures is the second commandment in Exodus 20, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m not sure how many Amish actually apply that commandment to picture taking – however, I think the reason has more to do with vanity and humility.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think they feel that a picture of a person is a way of glorifying the outward man, not strengthening the inner man, which would lead them away from their goal of true humility.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Being a photographer, I obviously don’t share their beliefs about picture taking, but I certainly respect them.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have taken a few pictures with Amish people in them, but usually from a distance where they are not very recognizable.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=b528c609-853a-46e1-866b-e50306111681"><img alt="Amish Farmer by Lou Ford)" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a99e3758-714b-47ab-a2a3-a7e1bfb3f498/uploadedartwork/450X450/b528c609-853a-46e1-866b-e50306111681.jpg" /><br /><b style="font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Amish Farmer (Click photo for info)</span></span></span></b></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Off the topic of photography a little... I always knew a little about the Amish with their buggies and lack of electricity, but in the short time we’ve lived here I've learned a few additional things I didn’t know before:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They have church services every other Sunday, with services held in homes or farms.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When two young people want to get married, they usually “publish” their engagement in October.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All weddings are usually held on Tuesdays or Thursdays in November or December.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some Amish groups practice “Rumspringa”, meaning “running around”, where boys and girls in their late teens are allowed to experience the ways of the world before they decide to leave or stay in the Amish church.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite the spotlight of the media on the few who get into rebellious behavior, the vast majority (80 – 90%) of Amish youth decide to stay.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Under no circumstances would an Amish farm be connected into the power grid – it’s too much of a direct link to the outside world.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, they can use off-line sources of power like batteries and gas generators for things like refrigeration, welding farm equipment, and certain businesses, like carpentry.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They also are allowed to have phones, but not in the main house – only in outbuildings, where it won’t interfere with family life.</span></span></span></li></ul><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=da2d038d-5ad5-48e4-b465-c7f5ad9a0d63"><img alt="Baling the Hay by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a99e3758-714b-47ab-a2a3-a7e1bfb3f498/uploadedartwork/450X450/da2d038d-5ad5-48e4-b465-c7f5ad9a0d63.jpg" /><br /></a><b style="font-size:10px;"><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=da2d038d-5ad5-48e4-b465-c7f5ad9a0d63"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Baling the Hay (Click photo for info)</span></a></b><div><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=da2d038d-5ad5-48e4-b465-c7f5ad9a0d63"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><a style="color:black; text-decoration:none; text-align:center;" href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=cf4c5b94-a266-4bbc-b86b-ed1e50803596"><img alt="Working the Fields by Lou Ford" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a99e3758-714b-47ab-a2a3-a7e1bfb3f498/uploadedartwork/450X450/cf4c5b94-a266-4bbc-b86b-ed1e50803596.jpg" /><br /></a><b style="font-size:10px;"><a style="text-decoration: none; text-align: center; " href="http://www.imagekind.com/showartwork.aspx?IMID=cf4c5b94-a266-4bbc-b86b-ed1e50803596"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Working the Fields (Click photo for info)</span></a></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-size:16px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you have a chance, please check out my </span></span><a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ImageKind Store</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Flickr Collections</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NEXT POST: Another Step Back in Time</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></b></span></span></div></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-57065129085150057992009-09-30T13:34:00.018-04:002009-10-04T16:30:19.585-04:00A Word about Equipment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy1xIeqKNNFDZtFShu_LOsf978dNXMcV3rOR2yMmwBJe41rBUncoUVRL1or6cBw70m2ETAHukada7GXzRSMFKC64pXQiocT9zPHoQhCc-GrpiS7-yKRDVMQv56HWzsDtO7sak6oz9qlpc/s1600-h/30D_kit_top.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy1xIeqKNNFDZtFShu_LOsf978dNXMcV3rOR2yMmwBJe41rBUncoUVRL1or6cBw70m2ETAHukada7GXzRSMFKC64pXQiocT9zPHoQhCc-GrpiS7-yKRDVMQv56HWzsDtO7sak6oz9qlpc/s200/30D_kit_top.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387323021383471442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy4Wv4BcWS11NL3FAapr_SPlgd4O0TjF0gH2yrZlBZj1nwlV_eJpRzEyjRgbyHbRI8fDbzA_1cLqOHf_Es3wDn8l9AuKrL255Mn_XvqCd7gJVt-v6YR5h76ksFRsuc-4KjHulYGmq6x4Z/s1600-h/30D_kit_top.jpg"></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In case you’re interested in what camera and computer equipment I own, here’s a list of what I’m currently using: </span><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></span></span></span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Camera:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=215&modelid=12929"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EOS 30D</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (3-years old)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lenses:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Computers:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Toshiba Satellite M35X Laptop (5-years old)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gateway 700X Desktop (7-years old)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">w/ HP 2159m Monitor (Recent replacement)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Software:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon Digital Photo Professional</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adobe Photoshop 7</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here’s a list of camera and computer upgrades and additional lenses I’d like to be using someday:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Camera:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EOS-5D Mark II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> or </span><a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=19356"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EOS 7D</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lenses:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canon Extender EF 2x II</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Computer:</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.apple.com/imac/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Apple 24” iMac</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Software:</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Adobe Photoshop CS4</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rationale for upgrades:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Canon 30D is an 8.2 megapixel camera, and even though it’s not quite 3-years old, it’s already getting outdated in this age of 18 – 24 megapixel cameras.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As you can see, I have a range gap between the 17-40mm and 70-200mm lenses that needs to be filled.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also, I’d like to get more into macro-photography.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My computer equipment is also showing its age when it comes to processing power and speed.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ve been keeping an eye on the iMac line for awhile.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think it may be time to “come over from the dark side”, as the Mac-enthusiasts say.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As of this post, there are pretty solid rumors of an update to the iMac line in the near future, so I’m waiting to see what improvements that will include.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I use the Canon DPP software to do all of my basic digital post-processing (e.g. color, brightness, saturation, cropping, etc.), and I use Photoshop 7 for more advanced manipulations.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m no expert, but I’d like to move up to CS4 to start developing more advanced processing skills, like HDR processing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NEXT POST: Living in Amish Country</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1026850880829370757.post-81997224844018029342009-09-28T16:23:00.011-04:002009-10-02T17:14:45.385-04:00Introduction and Welcome<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Welcome to my blog!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;">My name is Lou Ford.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was born and raised in <st1:city st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state>, and have lived in <st1:place st="on">Southeastern PA</st1:place> for most of my life. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span>I currently live amid the Amish farmlands of <st1:city st="on">Chester</st1:city> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lancaster</st1:place></st1:city> counties.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not much of a writer and have never written a blog before, but I hope this will develop into something meaningful, not only to myself, but anyone else who happens to stumble upon this page.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I’m not a professional artist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not a professional photographer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In fact, at the moment, I’m not a professional anything.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just a guy looking to have a hobby in his retirement years that will not only pass the time, but provide something that will be enjoyed by myself and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-family:Arial;">I've always been into photography - going back to my childhood days with a Kodak Instamatic. Through the years, most of my work has involved filling photo albums with family pictures and documenting family vacations. Only recently, through retirement, have I been able to dedicate more time to developing a style and building a portfolio. I really enjoy photography. To me it is a way to get out and enjoy and celebrate the beauty of God's creation.</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I haven’t developed a specialty yet… <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I have a wide range of photographs in my galleries - flowers and water lilies, cityscapes, travel and landscape photos, photos of rural <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state> around my home, hummingbirds, and digitally altered works. I hope to add even much more variety as we go along.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I don’t know where this blog will be taking me, but I’ll probably start out with photography around the southeastern PA area, where I live.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Maybe throw in some topics from trips we’ve taken in the recent past, or will take in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have no grandiose expectations that this blog will be read by many people – or even ANY people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I hope to use it to improve my skills in digital photography, and hopefully the skills of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">Lou Ford</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">PS - If you have a chance, please check out my <a href="http://fordlou.imagekind.com/store/">ImageKind Store</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordlou/collections/">Flickr Collections</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">NEXT POST: A Word about Equipment</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><br /></span></p>Lou Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846156716584560333noreply@blogger.com0